North American Indians at the Dallas Museum of Art and other American Indian Museums and Galleries

A Presentation for El Centro's Capstone Program

Here are some questions to consider before you enter the virtual tour or to the museum: Who made these objects and why were they made? What do the objects reveal about the people who made them? What do the objects reveal about the environment in which they were made? How did the objects from the Southwest differ from the Caddo and Eskimo objects? How did the objects from the Southwest seem similar to the Caddo and Eskimo objects? Which of the objects did you like the most and why? Why did the ancient American cultures develop pottery styles different from other cultures in the world? Describe two major characteristics of ancient American pottery. What influence did the introduction of Spanish culture have on ancient American pottery? Name three cultural groups that occupied the southwestern part of North America. Define some of the cultural attributes associated with the ancient American peoples represented at the Dallas Museum of Art and other museums. Describe at least two attributes of Mimbres pottery. When did the Mimbres culture flourish and where? Why are bowls the majority of artifacts found from the Mimbres culture? Timeline: These dates are a compilation of a variety of resources. As you can see, there is a wide range of dates. Anthropology is not an exact science in this area. Take the dates as educated guesses. (?)18,000 BCE Southwest & Southeast occupied 7000 BCE Desert Cultures emerge 2000 BCE First farming in the S.W. 700-0 BCE Cochise peoples of S.W. 500 BCE Agricultural Revolution in S.W. 300-100 BCE Pottery, settling down 300 BCE-300 CE Development of Hohokam culture 200 BCE-1 CE Development of Mogollon culture 1-750 CE Development of Puebloan cultures - Basket Maker Stages (Anasazi) 200-700 CE Arrival of Mexican influences in the S.W. 300 CE Vahki phase of Hohokam culture 400-700 Modified Basket Maker Stage 600 Hohokam develop irrigation, ball courst, earthen pyramids, etchings 700-900 Appearance of pueblos, kivas, reliance on agriculture in S.W. 700-1000 Shift to above ground, masonry pueblos in S.W. 750-1250 Mimbres culture 1100 Peak of Caddo moundbuilding 1100-1300 Great Pueblo Period - cliff dwellings 1150-1450 Classic Hohokam 1300 Caddo Mounds of East Texas abandoned 1300-1500 Puebloan dispersal Chihuahua to Phoenix; abandon cliff dwellings 1300-1700 Late Caddo period 1500 (?) Arrival of Athabascans (Navajo & Apache) in S.W.

The collection of art and artifacts from Indians north of mesoamerica is one of the smaller collections at the Dallas Museum of Art. It seems to get smaller every Spring. The advantage of this is you may focus your study and are not overwhelmed by the choices. Another interesting thought is that this collection is probably the only one at the museum in which most of the artists are women. As you enter the area, you will see relatively recent pieces from New Mexico. They are from San Ildefonso Pueblo, that is one of 19 surviving Pueblos and home to the Tewa Indians in New Mexico. The pieces are dated from the late 19th through early 20th centuries. They are ceramic although differ in the color of the slip and designs. The black plate is most representative of Tewa pottery since that's their most famous. The next piece that you will see in this display comes from Santa Clara Pueblo, also home to Tewa Indians. Both also make beautiful black pottery. For more information on other Pueblo Indians, see the Pueblos Page as well as the Hopi and Zuni. Here are some sites about San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, and other Pueblo pottery and people: San Ildefonso Pueblo San Ildefonso Pueblo - Wikipedia San Ildefonso Pueblo - Photo San Ildefonso Pottery San Ildefonso Pottery San Ildefonso Pottery San Ildefonso Pottery San Ildefonso Pottery Items for Sale Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery Santa Clara Pueblo - Wikipedia Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery On the wall next to the Pueblo pottery, you will a Navajo (Dine') weaving. This blanket from the 1870s would be part of the so-called "Transition Period" or Classic Period. The story goes that the Dine' never completely finish a work. Can you find the unfinished bit? Be sure and read the information on the wall next to the weaving. Question: Why would the Dine' want an unfinished work of art? Here are some interesting Dine' or Navajo links: Navajo National Monument Navajo Codetalkers Dictionary "The People" Navajo Literature Navajo Creation Story A Brief Social History of Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving Picture Next to the rug, there is a display of more Puebloan pottery. The two jars come from the San Ildefonso and Acoma. Pottery of this sort is still being made at Acoma. Acoma pottery is still highly prized. Acoma Pueblo is considered the oldest continuously inhabited town in the U.S. today. Today, Acoma Pottery is still important to the economy, but the Sky City Casino provides another source. Here are links that tell you more about Acoma Pueblo and People: Hollister Collection, University of Massachusetts Question: How would you describe the geography of the Acomo Pueblo region?