Indians of North America -- Colorado; Mesa Verde National Park (Colo.)
We have seen briefly the outstanding traits of the Basket Maker culture.
Summing them up, we see a tribe of Indians living in the Mesa Verde
region at the beginning of the Christian Era. Formerly hunters, they
turned more and more to farming, raising corn and squash on the mesa
tops or in open canyon bottoms. Having no permanent houses they sought
the shelter of caves and since pottery was unknown baskets were widely
used. The atlatl, or spear thrower, was used instead of the bow. Minor
arts and crafts enabled the people to live a comparatively well-rounded
life.
The noteworthy point is that from this simple beginning developed the
amazing Pueblo culture which reached its peak in the thirteenth century.
Since the people were industrious and intelligent they progressed
steadily, following the same trail which all people have taken in their
climb toward civilization. In the early stages progress was slow but
with the acquisition of each new idea the pace quickened.
The great step forward was the abandonment of the chase, the acceptance
of a settled farming life. Within a short time they became firmly
established agriculturists. Their main dependence for food was soon on
their farms, and wild animals and plants became a secondary source.
The change to a farming life revolutionized the entire culture. As the
source of food changed the religious, social and economic life also
changed. The religion of hunters could never suffice for farmers. The
men viewed rain, snow, the soil, the sun, frosts and the changing
seasons through the eyes of farmers instead of through the eyes of
hunters. All events of nature were interpreted according to their effect
upon agriculture. New social regulations grew out of the settled
existence and the entire outlook on life was different.
Even though progress was slow at first some startling changes came.
About the middle of the fifth century some of the changes were so
important that the culture was radically modified. A new descriptive
term must now be used in order to indicate these new developments.
MODIFIED BASKET MAKER PERIOD. 450 to 750 A.D.
Even though the culture changed the people themselves did not. It is
extremely important to keep in mind the fact that the Modified Basket
Makers were merely the descendants of the true Basket Makers. They added
new material things to their culture, thus modifying it, but they
themselves changed not one particle.
To state it briefly, it can be said that the change in name has been
made because the people acquired the things which were mentioned as
lacking during the earlier period. They learned to make pottery, they
began to build houses and they adopted the bow and arrow. Thus the true
basket making culture changed. The weaving of baskets continued but the
addition of pottery modified the culture and this is indicated in the
new name.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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