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Show and dotted with numerous lakes and lagoons. Today the soil is barren and a deep, broad wash extends nearly from wall to wall of the canyon. Thus, keeping in view the former picture of this region, it is readily seen why prehistoric man settled here and how he was able to live so abundantly off the land for centuries. Our first definite knowledge of the oldest settlers of this Anasazi area comes about the opening of the Christian Era. It is generally thought that early nomadic occupants of the plateau obtained corn and the knowledge of how to plant and cultivate it from the groups to the south, probably from people of the Mogollon Culture. The earliest known " Bas- ketmakers" had corn. Although agriculture was practiced by these people, wild vegetable products and wild animals were still extensively utilized. With the change to a more sedentary existence, it soon became necessary to provide storage places for surplus corn. Dry caves were used for the construction of circular or oval pits, often slab- lined, with earth- covered pole and brush superstructures. These storage cists were frequently put to a secondary use, serving as burial chambers; and, since material objects used in life were usually placed with the deceased, we derive a considerable amount of information of the people and period from a study of articles found in the caves. These people were skilled makers of coiled baskets, often decorated in color, twined- woven bags, fur- cloth robes, sandals with toe fringes and human hair cord ties, rope, head bands, snares, large game nets, and stone and shell ornaments. Weapons included the throwing stick or atlatl, curved, grooved wrooden clubs, and elk antler clubs. These people lacked, however, the bow and arrow, fired pottery, and the hafted ax. Although this Basketmaker Culture, so- called because of the great abundance of coiled baskets found in the caves, reached its highest development in the San Juan drainage in southern Utah and northern Arizona, it extended over practically the entire Anasazi area. One of the most important early Basketmaker sites yet found is Dupont Cave, near Kanab, Utah, a cave which was dated by means of tree rings as showing a Basketmaker occupation as early as 217 A. D. In the fifth century, fired pottery was developed, -•^ s^--* -; ', ••*?: » rS., WSS. *& y WUmm IT. l- rfij. Jt- rl. i'' i'Vlf-*"*# W • » , jm^ Figure 44.- Check dams built by the Anasazi at Mesa Verde National Park, Colo. 818271° 50- 8 91 |