Southwest Culture Area The Anasazi ca. 2100 BP and 700 BP

Ancestors of the Pueblo People The Anasazi Ancestors of the Pueblo People Anasazi bowl

“Anasazi” – a Navajo word Pre-Columbian Civilization Town Dwellers “Anasazi” – a Navajo word Pre-Columbian Civilization ca. 2100 BP and 700 BP ? disappearance ? Chetro Ketl Cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde

Anasazi and Pueblo Ancestors to contemporary Puebloan peoples “ethnographic analogy” Why such change? Transitioned into smaller-scale society

Economy / Subsistence Farming Corn Three sisters “Dry farming” Corn cribs Farming Three sisters “Dry farming” Corn Intensive processing and preparation Evidence of extreme arthritis Mano and Metate

Social Organization Matrilineal Lineage elders held significant power Elder : Chief Kinsmen pay tribute Work collectively Surplus Elaborate ritual etc.

Roads Evidence of extensive trade, or something else? social organization / stratification Trade routes (?) Religious/Political service (?) Both (?) Regulation Valley of Mexico (?) Turquoise Obsidian (?)

Theocracy Astronomy Rule by priests Calendric rituals “Time keepers” Chiefs & Priest = upper stratum of society Tribute Astronomy Architectural features suggest observatories Prior to architectural forms, natural features were used to mark passage of sun or celestial objects Timing and scheduling Control the calendar – control the society

Cosmology Layered universe Upper world is permanent sacredness is to transport between worlds Sipapu – opening Four worlds Each ends in catastrophe 4th (present) world

Kachinas Emerge from 3rd world via sipapu Not “dolls” but masked figures Represent sacred beings kachina figurines assist memory Kachina in rock painting?

Ritual: Calendric return of the sun after solstice rainy summer season. Hopi snake dance Anasazi not exactly the same, but quite similar to modern Pueblo peoples.

Rock Art Kokapelli and Friends Hunting Magic?  hands 6-toed feet  Sacred contact? Sipapu?

Kiva Provides point of contact Emergence of sacred beings Sipapu Originally humans re-emerge after death Coyote covered it up. Anasazi kiva (reconstruction) Kiva at Chaco Canyon

Kiva-archaeology “Basketmaker” phase lived in “pit houses” many groups continued to live in pit houses. Anasazi developed pueblo-style housing retain kivas as ritual space

Kiva Gender and Society Secular as well as Sacred space Two sacred periods winter and summer Remaining secular periods “men’s club.” foster solidarity among adult men Some women allowed on occasion uncommon Women of childbearing age generally kept out.