The Burials Reveal

Trading

Material goods are frequently found with human remains. Examine the pictures on these pages. These items were discovered with one of the female burials. The pendant and decorated bowl indicate that these people were part of an extensive trading network which covered at least the length and breadth of the Southwest.

Rigors of life

Of the fifteen skeletons whose ages could be determined, eleven died before age 45. Some skeletons also provided evidence of arthritis and other bone diseases. And as noted in the archeological report, “... two male skulls showed ... several straight, ragged cuts such as could have been caused by a blunt stone axe.”

The DECORATED BOWL was made in northeastern Arizona about 1350-1400.

The PLAIN BOWL was probably made locally.

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Shell for the background of this NECKLACE PENDANT is from the southern California coast. The turquoise is probably from an area rich in copper.

Customs

The backs of over half the skulls were flattened! This could have occurred because infants were often strapped to rigid cradleboards. Whether this deformation was intentional or not is debatable.

Ponder for a moment

If archeologists examine our gravesites 600 years from now, what will they learn about us?

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