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.

Duck Decoys