Apishapa culture
Apishapa | |
---|---|
Culture | |
Location | Lower Apishapa canyon in Colorado |
The Apishapa culture, or Apishapa Phase, a prehistoric culture from 1000 to 1400, was named based upon an archaeological site in the Lower Apishapa canyon in Colorado.[1] The Apishapa River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, formed the Apishapa canyon.[2] In 1976, there were 68 Apishapa sites on the Chaquaqua Plateau in southeastern Colorado.[3]
Origin
The Apishapa culture, primarily found in the Arkansas River basin of southeastern Colorado, may have evolved from the
Culture
Apishapa sites, found in Colorado and
Identified by archaeologist Robert G. Campbell in 1975, the Apishapa culture of southeastern Colorado's Chaquaqua Plateau was thought to be an outgrowth of the Graneros from the Texas panhandle. Other noted archaeologists, however, dispute the connection between the Apishapa and the Panhandle culture, a prehistoric culture of the southern High Plains during the Middle Ceramic Period from A.D. 1200–1400.[1][8] The Apishapa culture, while similar, is no longer considered a part of the Panhandle culture. It is also similar, except for architecture, to the culture of the Upper Republican River basin.[3]
Dwellings
The people of the Apishapa phase lived in rock shelters, single or multi-room stone or slab structures or in campsites, generally in protected areas near flowing water[1] and canyon bottomland, and located on protected points or isolated mesas.[3]
Stone slab buildings
Generally, stone slab dwellings were one-room round or oval buildings, however there were also groupings of roomblocks up to 37 rooms.[3]
James Gunnerson, an archaeologist from the
Campsites
Apishapa campsites have been found in Carrizo Ranches, north of Pueblo on the Wallace site and on the north end of Fort Carson in Colorado. In New Mexico, a campsite was found on the Steamboat Island Fort.[4]
Rock shelters
People of the Apishapa culture also made their homes in rock shelters, such as the Pyeatt, Trinchera Cave, Medina, and Upper Plum Canyon.[4] Franktown Cave also has remains of pottery like that of the Apishapa.[11]
Material goods
They made cord-wrapped pottery and used smaller side-notched, triangular projectile points than other Plains tribes. Unlike other Plains people, they did not use tools made of bison bones. Artifacts from this phase include a wide range of tools, cord-wrapped pottery and baskets.[1][4]
In addition to projectile points, other stone tools found at Apishapa sites include knives, scrapers, gravers, choppers, axes and drills.[3] Manos and metates were used for food preparation. Bones artifacts, such as awls, yucca and rabbit fur cordage and woven matting were also found.[5]
Interaction with other indigenous people
The Apishapa appeared to build their villages, sometimes called "forts," in highly-defendable positions. One set of sites occurs along a 6.835 miles (11.000 km) area along a canyon, seemingly so that signals could be relayed from one location to another.
Based upon the presence of distinctive black on white pottery, they may also have traded with the
Outcome
The number of Apishapa occupations decreased in the 14th century and there is no evidence of Apishapa occupations after 1400 on the Chaquaqua Plateau.
See also
- Apishapa cultural findings at:
- List of prehistoric sites in Colorado
- Prehistory of Colorado
References
- ^ ISBN 0-8153-0725-X.
- ISBN 1-55566-193-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gunnerson, James H. (1987). Archaeology of the High Plains. Denver: United States Forest Service. p. 89.
- ^ ISBN 1-55566-193-9.
- ^ a b c d e Gunnerson, James H. (1987). Archaeology of the High Plains. Denver: United States Forest Service. p. 90.
- ISBN 1-55566-193-9.
- ^ Green, Stewart M. (2008) [1994]. Scenic Driving Colorado. Morris Book Publishing. p. 28. ISSN 1544-8355.
- ^ Gunnerson, James H. (1987). Archaeology of the High Plains. Denver: United States Forest Service. p. 87.
- ISBN 1-55566-193-9.
- ISBN 1-55566-193-9.
- ^ Gilmore, Kevin P. National Register Nomination Form: Franktown Cave. Site 5DA272. University of Denver. p. 8-9. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
- ^ Gunnerson, James H. (1987). Archaeology of the High Plains. Denver: United States Forest Service. p. 107.