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

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

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

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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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.

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.