The
Anasazi, as they began to live in more permanent farming settlements,
developed into two main branches, the west Anasazi of Utah and
northern Arizona, and the east Anasazi of southern Utah and
Colorado. North of the Anasazi people were groups of small farming
villages from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds.
Although the Anasazi still continued to move around in search
of seasonally available foods, more energy was now being used
on growing crops and storing surplus food. By 500 AD, their
houses were well-constructed, based on a waist-deep pit which
was then built up with low walls and roofed over. By about 700
AD, a number of villages had grown into real towns or cities,
with huge communal structures called kivas.
Three important changes took place before 700 AD. The atlatl
(spear thrower) that had been used to throw small spears was
replaced by the bow and arrow; the bean was added to corn and
squash to form a major supplement to the diet; and the people
began to make pottery, both plain grey pottery for everyday
use and black and white painted ceramics.
To survive by hunting requires a detailed and sophisticated
knowledge of animal behaviour and life cycles. One example of
such knowledge from the natives of North America is the use
of duck decoys. Ducks, like other birds that live in flocks,
will be attracted to an open space of water if they see similar
types of birds there. After all, it must be safe if other ducks
and geese are there--unless these are cleverly made fakes. Usually
made of material that deteriorates, such as wood, most such
decoys have long rotted away. However, some duck decoys made
of reeds have been found up to 2000 years old. This ancient
skill is still practised to this day by the Cree of northern
Canada. They make standing goose decoys from tamarack sticks.
25
years ago / 50 years ago
/ 80 years ago / 125
years ago / 150 years ago
250 years ago / 400
years ago / 700 years ago
/ 1,200 years ago
1,500 years ago
/ 2,000 years ago / 3,000
years ago / 4,000 years
ago / 5,000 years ago
/ 10,000 years ago
