The Anasazi and agriculture

The Anasazi and agriculture

The Anasazi, a term that comes from the Navajo language Anaasází and meaning “the ancient enemies”, were a native people of North America who lived between the 7th century AD and the end of the 14th century AD.
The Anasazi are the ancestors of today’s Hopi/Zuñi Native Americans, tribes who live today along the Rio Grande, New Mexico and Arizona.
This population became extinct around the 13th century; according to a recent study this population, like that of the Maya, was exterminated by a long period of drought. The drought, combined with the method they used to create canals to irrigate the fields, caused the groundwater level to drop and consequently the loss of local vegetation.
This discovery was confirmed by the study of tree trunks: in fact the scholars analyzed the rings of the trunks of that area and noticed that the rainy, humid period was that of thick rings, while the thinner ones “indicated” a dry year; in the period of the extinction of this civilization, scientists noticed a succession of many thin rings. This study also demonstrated the origin of the trees: first they were local and later only imported. The evolution of the vegetation present during the Anasazi civilization and the progressive deforestation have been demonstrated through the study of desert rat burrows.
The discovery of human coprolites containing myoglobin, as well as femurs and other human long bones split to extract the marrow, suggest that, in the final phase of civilization’s decay, the problems relating to survival were such as to make cannibalism practices obligatory.

History –
The Anasazi are an ancient Native American people who inhabited the Four Corners region, an area of the United States that includes parts of the present-day states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.
The history of the Anasazi can be divided into distinct periods:
– Archaic Period (8000 BC – 1 AD): The first inhabitants of the region were nomadic hunter-gatherers who settled in small settlements.
– Basketmaker Period (1 AD – 700 AD): During this period, the Anasazi began practicing agriculture and growing corn, beans, and pumpkins. They also introduced pottery and began building basement dwellings with woven reed walls.
– Pueblo I Period (700-900 AD): The Anasazi began building dwellings above ground, often in the form of pueblos, multi-room buildings made of stone or mud brick.
– Pueblo II period (900-1150 AD): During this period, the population increased and larger housing complexes were built, often placed on rocky plateaus for defensive purposes. The Anasazi actively traded with other cultures in the region.
– Pueblo III period (1150-1350 AD): This was a period of great development, with the construction of impressive multi-story buildings, some reaching as many as four or five stories. However, by the end of the period, there was a decline of the Anasazi civilization in the region.
– Decline and Abandonment (1350 AD – 1500 AD): Toward the end of the Pueblo III Period, the Anasazi abandoned many of their settlements. The reasons for this decline are the subject of debate among scholars, but possible causes include climate change, famine, internal or external conflicts, and movements to new areas.
The name “Anasazi” was given to the ruins found by Navajo herders around 1800.
Currently, many Anasazi ruins, such as those in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, and Chaco Culture National Park, New Mexico, have become important archaeological sites and tourist attractions, allowing people to learn more about the history of this ancient people.

Agriculture –
The Anasazi were an ancient indigenous people who thrived between 200 B.C. and 1300 AD. and are known for their agricultural prowess, particularly for growing corn.
Anasazi agriculture was primarily based on the cultivation of corn, but also included beans and pumpkins. These three foods, known as “the three sisters,” were grown together in an agricultural system known as synergistic agriculture, in which plants supported each other. For example, corn provided vertical support for beans, while pumpkins created a ground cover that helped retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing.
The Anasazi also developed sophisticated irrigation systems to manage water in the arid desert regions where they lived. These systems included canalizations and dams to collect and distribute water for field irrigation. This ability to manage water was critical to sustaining agriculture in an environment of variable rainfall.
Anasazi agriculture was a key element of their culture and survival, allowing them to establish stable communities and develop complex structures such as the famous cliff dwellings, buildings built into the walls of the gorges.
However, around 1300 AD, the Anasazi abandoned many of their settlements, and the exact reasons for this abandonment remain a matter of debate among scholars. Some proposed factors include climate change, demographic pressures, internal conflict, or a combination of these elements. Despite their decline, the legacy of the Anasazi in the agricultural and cultural history of the southwestern United States is enduring.

Agricultural tools and crops –
The Anasazi developed sophisticated agricultural practices to support their communities. These practices included the use of specific agricultural tools and the cultivation of various types of crops. However, it is important to note that the Anasazi were not a homogeneous group, and their agricultural practices may have varied depending on the region and available resources. Below are some of the common agricultural tools and crops of the Anasazi:
Agricultural tools:
– Hoes and digging tools: The Anasazi used stone hoes and other digging tools to prepare the soil for planting. These tools were often made from sharpened stone.
– Flasks: Wooden tools used to crush corn and other seeds to obtain flour. Flasks could be made of wood or stone.
– Irrigation implements: The Anasazi developed sophisticated irrigation systems to grow their crops in arid regions. These systems included canalizations and dams to direct water to cultivated fields.
Cultivations:
– Maize (maize): Maize was the main crop of the Anasazi and formed the basis of their diet. They grew different varieties of corn, adapted to the different climatic conditions of the regions in which they lived.
– Beans: The Anasazi grew beans as an important source of protein. These could be grown alongside corn in a system known as “the three sisters”, where corn, beans and pumpkins were grown in the same field for mutual benefit.
– Pumpkins and other vegetables: In addition to corn and beans, the Anasazi grew pumpkins and other vegetables. Pumpkins, in particular, were often grown alongside corn and beans.
Agriculture was critical to the survival of the Anasazi, and their ability to grow food in an often arid environment contributed to the success and stability of their communities.

Guido Bissanti