Archaeologists have had difficulty resolving the issues surrounding chronology and external relations during the late prehistoric occupation (A.D. 1150–1450) of the far southwestern corner of New Mexico and the far southeastern corner of Arizona (generally labeled the Animas phase). This article addresses these concerns using data from excavations at the Boss Ranch site (AZ FF: 7:10 [ASM]), an Animas habitation site located in the upper San Bernardino Valley. A suite of data is reviewed, including stratigraphy, architecture, radiocarbon dates, ceramic types, and chipped stone and faunal assemblage characteristics. Based on these analyses, the occupational history of the site likely spans more than a century, with three separate occupations. Mobility patterns appear to change through time, with the earliest occupation suggesting part-time residence. Finally, the regional implications of a more dynamic view of the Animas phase are presented.
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