Indoor Air Pollution, Gender and Illness at the Montezuma Castle Cliff Dwelling

Abstract

This paper outlines an experiment to investigate the health burden of exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) at the Montezuma Castle cliff dwelling (AZ O:5:14 [ASM]) using ethnographic analogy, experimental archaeology and contemporary medical data. Hearths inside the rooms of Montezuma Castle, along with sooting on ancient walls and roof beams suggest that inhabitants were exposed to smoke-filled air and at risk for serious short and long-term health problems. To explore this idea, air quality measurements were collected in a replicated pueblo room while wood was burned to produce smoke. These measurements are compared to contemporary medical data and along with the use of ethnographic analogy and archaeological data, suggest that women and children were routinely exposed to wood smoke and at risk for developing IAP-related illnesses. The results of this study also suggest that IAP-related illness had an impact on individual households including decision making, family dynamics and overall productivity.