Cultural Achievements of the Anasazi Pueblo Indians
The Anasazi Indians of the southwestern United States are noted for their cultural achievements. They were some of the first people in the region to build permanent settlements and cultivate crops. Their black and white pottery and the elaborate cities they carved out of canyons and caves still impress modern archaeologists and historians. The Pueblo native groups of today trace their ancestry back to the Anasazi, or Ancient Ones.
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Settlement
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Ancient cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. Historians and archaeologists are unsure of what prompted the change, but the Anasazi people were some of the first to abandon their nomadic ways and attempt to construct permanent settlements. Some theorize they were prompted by their Mesoamerican neighbors to settle in one place, build permanent homes and cultivate crops. Over time they also domesticated animals for both work and companionship (dogs) and food (turkeys).
Farming
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Corn was a staple for the diet of the Anasazi people. Both animals and plants were integrated into the Anasazi farming system. Turkeys were domesticated for meat as well as clothing and weapons (feathers were worn and used for making arrows). Hunting and gathering was still common, but was now supplemented by annual crops that consisted of beans, corn, squash and other hardy plants that did well in the arid climate and thin soil.
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Baskets and Pottery
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Another name that archaeologists have given to the Anasazi is "Basket Makers." Skillfully woven baskets were a hallmark of their culture even when they were still hunter gatherers. Tightly women plant fibers were also used for clothing, shoes and larger storage containers. Pottery was discovered and constructed by the Anasazi much later, from about 1100 AD to 1300 AD, and was made in two distinct types; a coiled, corrugated variety and a black and white variation.
The Kivas
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An example of a Native American kiva, or circular ceremonial space dug into the earth. A "kiva" was a large ceremonial chamber built partially underground, and was an integral part of the larger Anasazi communities that flourished during the height of their civilization (around 1300 AD). One in New Mexico measures almost 40 feet in diameter and is lined with a low bench and heavy rock slabs, then further reinforced with adobe fill.
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References
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