Myths and Misconceptions: the Disappearance of the Cliff Dwellers
People marvel at the magnificent architecture of Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Hovenweep and Canyon de Chelly and wonder where the people went who made such spectacular dwellings and ceremonial sites. For decades, the answer was that they simply disappeared, possibly due to pressure from other tribes, disease, drought, or in the more outlandish renditions, ancient astronauts. In fact, the descendants of these people are still among us, living in unique villages in three states, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
Most people refer to these cliff dwelling pre-contact Natives as Mogollon, Hohokam and the Anasazi. However, the word Anasazi is Navajo and, since the Navajo were the traditional enemies of the modern Pueblo peoples, the term is considered offensive to some. Ancestral Puebloans is more the more neutral term. Around the 8th-11th century in European reckoning, extensive climate change involving drought and conflict with incoming tribes forced groups of cliff dwellers to abandon these homes and seek shelter elsewhere. They took with them their extensive knowledge of building, water conservation and maize cultivation. They found new homes in the breathtaking mesas or flat-topped mountains that dot the Southwestern landscape. And there they were secure until the Spanish invasion in the 16th century.
When the Spanish saw the extensive adobe dwellings created by these people, they called the towns and the tribes who inhabited them pueblo, after the Spanish word for town. In fact, the Pueblo are not a cohesive group. Each town is its own tribe and carries its own traditions, language, and customs. There are 21 such pueblo groups in the states of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Most of them speak different languages, from different language groupings. Some favor matrilineal inheritance, others trace property and descent from the father's line. The main things that they have in common are they style of dwellings and cultivation of maize. Today, they are known for their pottery and jewelry making skills. Unlike many tribes, the Pueblo were fortunate to keep most of their ancestral lands as there reservations. Their ancient ancestors had chosen wisely.
Arizona is home to the Hopi, who speak a Uto-Aztecan dialect. The people of Ysleta del Sur, near El Paso, call Texas home. They are Tiwa speakers. However, New Mexico has the largest concentration of Pueblos. They are, with dialects in parentheses, the Cochiti (Keres), Isleta (Tiwa), Jemez (Towa), Kewa/Santo Domingo (Keres), Laguna (Keres), Nambe (Tewa), Ohkay Owingeh/San Juan (Tewa), Picuris (Tiwa), Pojoaque (Tewa), Sandia (Tiwa), San Felipe (Keres), San Ildefonso (Tewa), Santa Ana (Keres), Santa Clara (Tewa), Taos (Tiwa), Tesuque (Tewa), Zia (Keres) and Zuni, who speak a language isolate of unknown family.
As some of their names reflect, the various Pueblo peoples adopted Christianity, primarily Roman Catholicism under Spanish rule. As long as they were allowed to practice their traditional ways they became Christians and blended the two cultures together in beliefs, traditions and ceremonies that survive to this day and give New Mexico a cultural expression all its own.
Most people refer to these cliff dwelling pre-contact Natives as Mogollon, Hohokam and the Anasazi. However, the word Anasazi is Navajo and, since the Navajo were the traditional enemies of the modern Pueblo peoples, the term is considered offensive to some. Ancestral Puebloans is more the more neutral term. Around the 8th-11th century in European reckoning, extensive climate change involving drought and conflict with incoming tribes forced groups of cliff dwellers to abandon these homes and seek shelter elsewhere. They took with them their extensive knowledge of building, water conservation and maize cultivation. They found new homes in the breathtaking mesas or flat-topped mountains that dot the Southwestern landscape. And there they were secure until the Spanish invasion in the 16th century.
When the Spanish saw the extensive adobe dwellings created by these people, they called the towns and the tribes who inhabited them pueblo, after the Spanish word for town. In fact, the Pueblo are not a cohesive group. Each town is its own tribe and carries its own traditions, language, and customs. There are 21 such pueblo groups in the states of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Most of them speak different languages, from different language groupings. Some favor matrilineal inheritance, others trace property and descent from the father's line. The main things that they have in common are they style of dwellings and cultivation of maize. Today, they are known for their pottery and jewelry making skills. Unlike many tribes, the Pueblo were fortunate to keep most of their ancestral lands as there reservations. Their ancient ancestors had chosen wisely.
Arizona is home to the Hopi, who speak a Uto-Aztecan dialect. The people of Ysleta del Sur, near El Paso, call Texas home. They are Tiwa speakers. However, New Mexico has the largest concentration of Pueblos. They are, with dialects in parentheses, the Cochiti (Keres), Isleta (Tiwa), Jemez (Towa), Kewa/Santo Domingo (Keres), Laguna (Keres), Nambe (Tewa), Ohkay Owingeh/San Juan (Tewa), Picuris (Tiwa), Pojoaque (Tewa), Sandia (Tiwa), San Felipe (Keres), San Ildefonso (Tewa), Santa Ana (Keres), Santa Clara (Tewa), Taos (Tiwa), Tesuque (Tewa), Zia (Keres) and Zuni, who speak a language isolate of unknown family.
As some of their names reflect, the various Pueblo peoples adopted Christianity, primarily Roman Catholicism under Spanish rule. As long as they were allowed to practice their traditional ways they became Christians and blended the two cultures together in beliefs, traditions and ceremonies that survive to this day and give New Mexico a cultural expression all its own.
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