The Anasazi (Paleo-Indian)

The earliest settlers of Colorado were the Folsom and Clovis people. These Native American Tribes were nomadic, meaning they traveled at different points in the year to different places based on the weather or the food available. A smaller tribe the branched off of these larger tribes were called the Anasazi.

Through lots of research and archaeological digging, we have found a lot of information from different time periods in the Anasazi timeline. By looking at all of this research, we can find and explain technological, architectural, and social advancements that this tribe went through.

There is one archaeological site that shows the first signs of the Anasazi, with very primitive technology and weaponry, such as spears, and woven baskets. In another site, further down south, evidence shows that this was from the most advanced population of the Anasazi. Things such as multi-story buildings with many rooms, and plastered and painted walls, with show technological advancements from the earlier groups. Also, along the way, there were other sites that had evidence of cotton fibers (which showed that the Anasazi in that time period traded with other peoples/tribes because to cotton plant evidence was found near the site) and bits and pieces of painted and unpainted clay pots (which shows that the Anasazi living in that time period advanced from woven baskets to pots-which are harder to make and more efficient).

By closely examining each site, you can use logic and knowledge of past civilizations to correctly place these different sites in chronological order based on the evidence found there.

Now heres some information about the most interesting part of the Anasazi culture; kivas. Kivas here perfectly circular, 6ft deep rooms in the ground that were about 10ft deep and were essentially the religious center/church of the Anasazi. These churches were used for religious and social gatherings. The kivas had tunnels to apartments of the village, and at the end of each tunnel, there was a wall. They used that wall to protect the large fire that they had burning in the middle of the 10 ft room. Behind the fire was a little hole called the sipapu- the center of their entire religion. They believed that everything and everyone came from the ground, and the sipapu symbolized the connection of the Anasazi people with the earth.

#anasazi #kiva #sipapu