Did people ever live in the Grand Canyon?

Archeologists are anthropologists, meaning they study people, but they are not geologists (who study rocks and minerals) or paleontologists (who study very ancient reptiles). Archeologists look at old things and sites to investigate how people lived in the past. Archeologists are a hardy bunch. They dig everywhere, including in old garbage piles. They seem to know something about everything people in the past did: how they made tools, why they moved around, and what kinds of foods they ate. Archeologists want to know how people used these artifacts and why. Ask an Archeologist Did people ever live in the Grand Canyon?

What do you think archeologists found in the Grand Canyon that led them to infer that people lived there a long time ago?

Erosion caused by this arroyo exposed part of a prehistoric wall. When archaeologists excavated here, they unearthed a large room. tml

This kiva was unearthed during the excavation at Palisades.

Archeologists found these pottery shards while excavating a kiva of the ancient Puebloans near the Colorado River. These projectile points were found at the same site. The scientists estimate these to be about one thousand years old! archeology along the river – excavation in process 3:25 – 5:10 - active excavation; 8:40 – 10:55 – what archeologists do;

Hikers standing in the entrance to the Cave of the Domes on Horseshoe Mesa NPS Photo by Michael Quinn Archeologists explored caves in the Grand Canyon …..

Granaries above Nankoweap Archeologists made an amazing discovery inside the caves. It was evidence that people were there thousands of years ago. What do you think it was?

Each one is made from a single twig, often willow or cottonwood, split down the middle, and then carefully folded into animal shapes. These figurines date from 2,000 to 4,000 years ago and were found in remote caves. Split-Twig Figurines

Often they are in the shape of deer or bighorn sheep, sometimes with horns or antlers. Some are pierced with another stick, resembling a spear. While archeologists are not sure what they were used for, the split-twig figurines may have been totems. They were often found underneath rock cairns, showing that they were placed there carefully. They were not toys, because they were found in remote, or far away, caves that were difficult to reach.

Let’s look at some other artifacts found in the Grand Canyon that helped scientists infer that people have lived in the canyon for thousands of years.

Map of Tusayan Pueblo Ruins What do you think the archeologists found in the Tusayan Pueblo area to make this map? FF6A17345BC2http:// 6793FF6A17345BC2 –skip to 1 min.

Archeologists have studied other artifacts found in the Grand Canyon, too.

You may know what this is - Petroglyph

Petroglyphs are carved or pecked into rock. Many petroglyphs are thousands of years old.

More petroglyphs…. Can you find the petroglyphs?

Pictographs are painted with pigment on rocks. Some may be over 10,000 years old!

This amazing pictograph was found at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. It was created between 700 A.D. and 1300 A.D. by ancestors of the Hopi.

Both kinds of rock art were used to tell a story, or relay a message. What story do you think this petroglyph tells?

How did Humans survive in the Grand Canyon? The first humans were from the Paleo-Indian period. 10,000 That was over 10,000 years ago! These people were nomads. Nomads moved around in small groups. They were hunters and gatherers. They hunted animals such as mountain goats, ground sloth, and bison. Archeologists found the large spearheads the nomads used to hunt these large animals.

How did Humans survive in the Grand Canyon? Ancient Puebloan People –2,250 years ago –Villages, settled life –Began farming corn, cotton, beans, squash

How do scientists know that people farmed in the Grand Canyon? Domesticated (farmed) plants versus wild plants –Farmed plants change genetically over time. –Modern corn is much different than Ancient Corn!!! Wild Ancient Corn: Teosinte is wild corn. It is very small and hardy. It reproduces by dispersing seeds in the air. Modern Corn: Modern Maize is very large with lots of kernels. It only reproduces if humans plant its seeds.

Other Indicators of Farming Archaeologists have found the remains of tools used by early people for farming. –Manos and Metates –Hoes –Digging sticks –Pottery for cooking and storage

Did people ever live in the Grand Canyon? YES! Archeologist Anthropologist Split-Twig Figurines 2,000 -4,000 years old! Petroglyphs and Pictographs 1, ,000 years old! artifacts 10,000+ years old! Paleo-Indian Spearheads

Are you ready to make one yourself? 1. Connect 2 pipe cleaners together end to end to make one long pipe cleaner. They should overlap about an inch. 2. Add 1 more pipe cleaner to make one very long pipe cleaner.

* Make the legs about 1 inch long* * Hold on to this end for the next step*

Now you have made your own split-twig figurine! Congratulations!