Dinétah
People | Diné |
---|---|
Language | Diné Bizaad, Hand Talk |
Country | Dinétah |
Dinétah is the traditional homeland of the
Geography and topography
The Dinétah region is marked by high mesas and deep canyons that drain to the
The traditional boundary of the land is demarcated by four mountains:
Cultural overview
The Navajo regard Dinétah as their ancestral homeland. The traditional Navajo creation story centers on the area, and Navajo place names within the region reflect its role in Navajo mythology.
While Dinétah generally refers to a large geographical area, the heart of the region is regarded to be the canyons of the Largo and Carrizo washes, south of the
The cultural significance of Dinétah is documented throughout Navajo oral history, and is supported by numerous
Archaeological sites
There are thousands of recorded archaeological sites within the Dinétah region. The sites include the remains of several cultures, including the
The most visible archaeological sites are known as
History
There is increasing evidence for Navajo presence in Dinétah as early as 1500 CE. While there is continuing debate as to the dating of Navajo sites in the area, it is generally agreed that they inhabited Dinétah at some point well before the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
The Navajo occupation of the region has been divided by archaeologists into two major phases - the Dinétah phase (ca. 1500-1630), which includes the entrance and settling of the area by the Navajo, and the Gobernador phase (ca. 1630-1800), during which time the Navajo culture became fully defined. The difference between the two phases has been based on the recovery of Gobernador Polychrome ceramic shards from reliably dated sites, and the presence of pueblitos.
See also
- Four Corners
- Navajo Nation
- Canyon de Chelly
- Denedeh, a name from the same root words used to refer the Northwest Territories in Canada
References
- ^ "translation and definition "-tah"". Dictionary Navajo-English online. Glosbe. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ Iverson, Peter: Diné: A History of the Navajos. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2002.
Further reading
- Powers, Margaret A., and Johnson, Byron P. Defensive Sites of Dinetah. New Mexico Bureau of Land Management Cultural Resources Series No. 2, 1987. Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Roessel, Robert A. Jr. Dinétah - Navajo History Vol. II. Navajo Curriculum Center and Title IV-B Materials Project, Rough Rock Demonstration School, Rough Rock, Arizona, 1983.
- Zolbrod, Paul G. Diné bahané: The Navajo Creation Story. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1984.