DISCUSSION QUESTIONS/TOPICS

  • Research Mesa Verde. Discuss the parallels of overpopulation, degradation of natural resources, etc. with today's civilization. The Ancestral Puebloans moved to more habitable places when their land was "played out." What can we do when our planet becomes "unlivable?"
  • Find the word "civilization" in the dictionary. Were the Ancestral Puebloans civilized, according to the definition?
  • Why was wood important to the Ancestral Puebloans if they lived in stone houses? They used it for cooking and construction of roofs, ladders, etc.
  • Would you like to live in a cliff dwelling? Why or why not?
  • Why were the rooms small and connected to each other? Conserve heat, share wall construction materials.
  • Research the Hopi.
  •  The Hopis, descendants of the Ancestral Puebloans, believe they may reoccupy the homes of their ancestors some day. How do you think they feel about tourists visiting their possible "future homes?"

FURTHER READING

  • Ambler, Richard
    1977,  The Anasazi, Museum of Northern Arizona Press, Flagstaff, AZ.
  • Asmussen, Jaymie
     1994,  Ancient Activities at Chimney Rock Pueblo, paper presented at the 1994 Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Anaheim, CA.
  • Bandelier, Adolf, F.
    1971, The Delight Makers: A Novel of Prehistoric Pueblo Indians, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, New York, NY.
  • Barnett, Franklin
    1973, Dictionary of Prehistoric Indian Artifacts of the American Southwest, Northland Press, Flagstaff, AZ.
  • Cassells, E. Steve
    1998, The Archaeology of Colorado, Johnson Books, Boulder, CO.
  • Cory, Steven
    1996, Pueblo Indian, Lerner Publications, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Crum, Sally
    1996, People of the Red Earth, American Indians of Colorado, Ancient City Press, Santa Fe, NM.
  • Ferguson, William M. And Arthur H. Rohn
    1987, Anasazi, Ruins of the Southwest in Color, UniversitY, of New Mexico Press! Albuquerque, NM.
  • Freeman, Brian and Jody Freeman
    1986, The Old Ones, First Light, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Harrington, John P. (collected by)
    1989, Indian Tales from Picuris Pueblo, Ancient City Press, Santa Fe, NM.
  • Hobbs, Ida May
    1987, The Coming of Gray Owl, Mesa Verde Association, Inc., Mesa Verde National Park, CO.
  • Houk, Rose
    1992, Anasazi, Southwest Parks andMonuments Association, Tucson, AZ.
  • Lister, Robert H. and Florence C.
    1983,  Those Who Came Before,  University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ.
  • Marriott, Alice
    1988, The Mouse Couple, A Hopi Folktale, Northland Press, Flagstaff, AZ.
  • Matlock, Gary
    1988, Enemy Ancestors,  Northland Publishing Company, Flagstaff, AZ.
  • National Park Service
    No Date, Our Fragile Legacy, Preserving the Spirit of Peoples Past and Present, (brochure available by writing NPS, P.O> Box 728, Santa Fe, NM 85704)
  • Nobel, David Grant (Ed.)
    1991, Ancient Ruins of the Southwest, Northland Publishing Co., Flagstaff, AZ.
    1991, Houses Beneath the Rock: The Anasazi of Canyon de Chelly and Navajo National Monument, Ancient City Press, Santa Fe, NM.
  • Ortiz, Alfonso
    1969, The Tewa World, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
  • Smith, Shelley, Jeanne M. Moe, Kelly A. Letts and Danielle M. Paterson
  • 1996, Intrigue of the Past: A Teacher's Activity Guide, 4th-7th Grade, Anasazi Heritage Center, Bureau of Land Management, Dolores, CO. (An archaeology program providing workshops and activities in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Contact Cindy Ramsay, Anasazi Heritage Center, P.O. Box 758, Dolores, CO (970) 882-4811, email: cramsay@co.blm.gov)