A Day In Their Life

Castle ‘A’

West of Montezuma Castle, at the base of the cliff, is Castle A. In 1934 the ruin was excavated by archeologists. This “dig” provided insight into the lives of the families who called it home. Let’s step back in time and join the archeologists in a few of these discoveries....

Abandoned belongings

An abandoned room

In one room, scattered here and there were corncobs, squash stems, beans, and the remains of several stone hoes. A large clay storage pot was found in the right rear corner. By its side, a food grinder was propped up and ready for use. Did we discover the remains of a farmer’s home?

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Tragedy

Buried in the room directly behind and above the preceding one were the remains of three infants. The Hopi Indians of northern Arizona believe in burying a child near the mother so that its spirit may enter another newborn. Does the discovery of these burials shed light on the spiritual beliefs of the parents?

Clever housekeeping

Clay pot

In a room to the left of the child burials a large clay pot was found propped against a firepit. Was this arrangement accidental? Or, did some prehistoric housekeeper devise a method for keeping water hot?

A touch of elegance

Cloth with patterns and fringe

The caves above contained woven material. Many were made from wild plant fibers for day-to-day use—sandals, skirts, matting, and rope. Other items were woven from cotton, a cultivated “crop.” Some of these fabrics were of dyed yarn and made into intricate designs. Today, weaving is considered an art. Would these prehistoric people agree?

... And Death

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