An Introduction to Anasazi Puebloan Societies

An Introduction to Anasazi Puebloan Societies Anasazi is the archaeological term used to describe prehistoric Puebloan peoples of the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. This term was used to distinguish their culture from other Southwestern groups like the Mogollon and Hohokam. A further distinction in Anasazi culture is made by archaeologists and historians between Western and Eastern Anasazi, using the Arizona/New Mexico border as a fairly arbitrary divide. The people who resided in Chaco Canyon are considered Eastern Anasazi. The term Anasazi is an English corruption of a Navajo word meaning Enemy Ancestors or Ancient Ones. Modern Puebloan people prefer to use the term Ancestral Puebloans. Current archaeological literature as well tends to use the phrase Ancestral Pueblo to describe the pre-contact people that lived in this region. Cultural Characteristics Ancestral Puebloan cultures reached their maximum presence between AD 900 and 1130. During this period, the landscape of the entire Southwest was dotted by large and small villages constructed in adobe and stone bricks, built along the canyon walls, the mesa top or hanging over the cliffs. Settlements: The most famous examples of Anasazi architecture are the famous Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde National Parks. These areas contain settlements constructed on the mesa top, at the bottom of the canyon, or along the cliffs. Cliff dwellings are typical of Mesa Verde, whereas Great Houses are typical of Chacoan Anasazi. Pithouses, underground rooms, were also typical dwellings of Ancestral Puebloan people in their earlier times.Architecture: Buildings were usually multistory and clustered near the canyon or cliff walls and were reached through wooden ladders. Anasazi constructed typical round or squared structures, called kivas, which were ceremonial rooms.Landscape: Ancient Puebloan people shaped their landscape in many ways. Ceremonial roads connected Chacoan villages among them and with important landmarks; staircases, like the famous Jackson Staircase, link the bottom of the canyon with the mesa top; irrigation systems provided water for farming and, finally, rock art, such as petroglyphs and pictographs, dots the rocky walls of many sites surrounding, testifying to the ideology and religious beliefs of these peoples. Pottery: Ancestral Puebloans crafted elegant vessels, in different shapes, such as bowls, cylindric vessels, and jars with distinct decorations typical of each Anasazi group. Motifs included both geometric elements as well as animals and humans usually portrayed in dark colors over a cream background, like the famous black-on-white ceramics.Craftwork: Other craft productions in which Ancestral Puebloan excelled were basketry, and turquoise inlay works. Social Organization For most of the Archaic period, people living in the Southwest were foragers. By the beginning of the Common Era, cultivation was widespread and maize became one of the main staples. This period marks the emergence of the typical traits of Puebloan culture. Ancient Puebloan village life was focused on farming  and both productive and ceremonial activities centered around agricultural cycles. Storage of maize and other resources lead to surplus formation, which was re-invested in trading activities and feasting celebrations. Authority was probably held by religious and prominent figures of the community, who had access to food surpluses and imported items. Anasazi Chronology The Anasazi prehistory is divided by archaeologists into two main time frames: Basketmaker (AD 200-750) and Pueblo (AD 750-1600/historic times). These periods span from the beginning of settled life until the Spanish takeover. See the detailed Anasazi timelineSee details on the Rise and Fall of Chaco Canyon Anasazi Archaeological Sites and Issues Penasco BlancoChetro KetlPueblo BonitoChaco CanyonKivaChaco Road System Sources: Cordell, Linda 1997, Archaeology of the Southwest. Second Edition. Academic Press Kantner, John, 2004, Ancient Puebloan Southwest, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Vivian, R. Gwinn Vivian and Bruce Hilpert 2002, The Chaco Handbook. An Encyclopedic Guide, The University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City Edited by  K. Kris Hirst

Free Essays on Argument Essay On Drinking Age

The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered You always want what you can’t have, But if u could have it, would you still want it, or crave it. That’s the question at hand. From the moment we can understand how rules work it’s in betted in our minds that we can’t drink, smell or even look at alcohol until the age of 21.At least that’s how my generation grew up, but it hasn’t always been like that. In 1987 the decision was made to raise the drinking age from 18 to 21. This is not the first time drinking alcoholic beverages has been regulated. In the 1920’s National probation was enforced, and in the 1850’s state prohibition. These laws were enforced so harshly a backlash occurred and even more social problems happened. We are doing the exact same thing today, by prohibiting people under 21 not to drink. Doing this it is causing and even worse backlash then it did in the 1920’s. College students are being forced to create there own little bars in their dorm room or apartments, where binge drinking occurs and in order to get drunk faster before they get caught. This law is creating alcoholics not preventing them this needs to change. It is no secret that drinking goes on in the college atmosphere, I would be lying if I said it didn’t. But were not 21 when we go to college, were 18. When someone becomes 18 they are legally considered an adult. With the title of adult come great responsibilities. You can legally vote, you can go to war, get married, smoke, but yet we can have a bottle of wine at our wedding or a shot after a hard days job on the war front. This just doesn’t make sense to me. The theory is that people under the age of 21 are neither physically or emotionally developed to drink alcohol, but yet instill there ready at the age of 18 to shoot a man in a war. Why is it that other countries find their kids responsible enough to drink at 16 or 17. What makes American kids so different. Perhaps if we were t... Free Essays on Argument Essay On Drinking Age Free Essays on Argument Essay On Drinking Age The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered You always want what you can’t have, But if u could have it, would you still want it, or crave it. That’s the question at hand. From the moment we can understand how rules work it’s in betted in our minds that we can’t drink, smell or even look at alcohol until the age of 21.At least that’s how my generation grew up, but it hasn’t always been like that. In 1987 the decision was made to raise the drinking age from 18 to 21. This is not the first time drinking alcoholic beverages has been regulated. In the 1920’s National probation was enforced, and in the 1850’s state prohibition. These laws were enforced so harshly a backlash occurred and even more social problems happened. We are doing the exact same thing today, by prohibiting people under 21 not to drink. Doing this it is causing and even worse backlash then it did in the 1920’s. College students are being forced to create there own little bars in their dorm room or apartments, where binge drinking occurs and in order to get drunk faster before they get caught. This law is creating alcoholics not preventing them this needs to change. It is no secret that drinking goes on in the college atmosphere, I would be lying if I said it didn’t. But were not 21 when we go to college, were 18. When someone becomes 18 they are legally considered an adult. With the title of adult come great responsibilities. You can legally vote, you can go to war, get married, smoke, but yet we can have a bottle of wine at our wedding or a shot after a hard days job on the war front. This just doesn’t make sense to me. The theory is that people under the age of 21 are neither physically or emotionally developed to drink alcohol, but yet instill there ready at the age of 18 to shoot a man in a war. Why is it that other countries find their kids responsible enough to drink at 16 or 17. What makes American kids so different. Perhaps if we were t...