Anasazi Indians
The roots of the Anasazi Indians or Ancient People date back to at least 700 AD. Skeletal remains uncovered by archaeologists working in the United States showed evidence of the people living during that time period and possibly even earlier. They were there long before European settlers arrived, settling in the area now known as the Four Corners.
The ancient people lived in portions of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. They primarily settled in the area of Chaco Canyon, where they built their villages around a sacred meeting place and kiva. By 1050 their numbers were quite large and they were beginning to build up their culture. They built bridges that connected their different villages together and created a central meeting space.
Resources on the Anasazi people include:
- Anasazi People: provides a history of these people.
- Anasazi Indians: discusses what happened to the Anasazi people and their history.
- Ancient Pueblo: gives a history and biographical information on these tribes.
- Oral Tradition and History of the Ancient People: looks at the history based on the oral histories taken.
- The Anasazi: focuses on the lifestyles of the ancient people.
The Anasazi moved to cliff dwelling and houses hidden behind rocks during the 11th century. The Navajo and Apache tribes in the same area attacked the people, leading to problems in their villages. The only thing they could do was find shelter in another area. Historians note this time period as the migration of the Anasazi. They moved again and again to escape attacks before finally settling in an area of Mexico.
The term Anasazi comes from a Navajo word that means Ancient Enemy. Historians are unclear as to why the Navajo took such a strong dislike to the neighboring tribe, but they do know that the feud lasted several hundred years. Descendants of the original Anasazi Indians today debate the merit of the word, preferring instead ancient people or ancient ones. Many of their descendants still reside in parts of modern day Mexico.
