Photo Gallery

A split twig figure of a deer made of delicate willow branches. The shape is highly stylized and very expressionistic, and is a fine example of the use made of the Simplest material. Height: 2.6 inches, Walnut Canyon (Arizona), Western Archaic Period, 2000-1000 B.C., MNA.
MNA = Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff (Arizona)

The Spiral, a universal motif and symbol of fertility. It also occurs in European, Siberian and South American petroglyphs, in the Sahara and Australia, from the Magdalenian Age to the Middle Ages. This is a detail of a basket, Basketmaker II, MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Several split twig figures, representing deer, each made from a single thin willow rod or from some other flexible wood. Archaic Period, 2000-1000 B.C. - 3.88 inches high, Sycamore Canyon (Arizona), ASM
ASM = Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona)

Several split twig figures, representing deer, each made from a single thin willow rod or from some other flexible wood. Archaic Period, 2000-1000 B.C. - 4.52 inches high, Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona), MNA
MNA = Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff (Arizona)

Several split twig figures, representing deer, each made from a single thin willow rod or from some other flexible wood. Archaic Period, 2000-1000 B.C. - 5.8 inches, from Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona), ASM.
ASM = Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona)

A basket made using the coiling technique, of yucca fibers and decorated with geometric designs in red, green and yellow; the pigments were derived from minerals and plants. When the basket was discovered, it contained 48 ears of corn. Its shape is designed to facilitate transport. Height: 24 inches. Painted Cave, Lukachukai Mountains (Arizona), Anasazi Culture, AFM.
AFM = Amerind Foundation Museum, Dragoon (Arizona)

Woven sandals made of yucca fiber. The sandal to the left is made with a more refined technique, from Mummy Cave, Canyon del Muerto in Canyon de Chelly (Arizona). The sandal on the right is from Long House, Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado). Both Anasazi Culture, MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Left: Basket woven of yucca fiber, found in a kiva at Mug House, Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado), Anasazi Culture, MVM. Right: Yucca fiber, best suited for items that would get rough use such as baskets and sandals.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

A coiled basket with black geometric pattern. Diameter: 8.4 inches, Sinagua Culture, MNA.
MNA = Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff (Arizona)