Culture and Ecology of Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin

Table 11.2. Population thresholds identified by Binford (2001).8LineNo.o234No. of Persons I100 km 2-0.571.579.09852.677304.99Comments on thresholds estimated from group size model.Minimal population density for occupation by hunter-gatherer populations based on terrestrial model. Hunter-gatherers tend tospecialize and have relatively narrow niche breadth. They have very low achieved population densities and low rates ofpopulation increase. There is no balanced mutualism found below line O.Threshold for terrestrial hunters. They become mounted hunters; extensification allows specialists. For those dependent uponterrestrial plants, there is a general increase in subsistence diversity concurre'nt with growing population density. For thosedependent on aquatic resources, specialization decreases.Packed conditions reached. Terrestrial animal specialists rely on plant foods. Terrestrial plant specialists increase labor. Bothoften reduce space to concentrate on patches. Some horticulturalists and pastoralists share this space. Domestication might beadaptation, but not a linear result.End of nonranked generic hunter-gatherer groups. End of nonranked groupl>. Modified hunter-gatherers share space.Hunter-gatherer subsistence practices end.• See Binford (2001 : Figure 11.16)