Figure 1. Anasazi Weaving (Specimen #18) 1250-1400
A.D., Montezuma's Castle
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The Pueblo people had developed a sophisticated tradition
of weaving on upright looms often with patterns of simple stripes (fig.
1). The origins of this Pueblo tradition extend back several
centuries to Peru through Mexico. Among the Pueblo, men were the
primary weavers, but among the Navajo women became the weavers and still
are today (fig.
2). Also from the Pueblo, and to a lesser extent from the Spanish,
the Navajo adopted sheep and horses. Traditionally Navajo women own
and tend the sheep while men manage the horses. Consequently, a key
historical ingredient in Navajo weaving is that the wool used was ultimately
dependent upon the introduction of sheep by the Spanish, whereas Pueblo
weaving was primarily in cotton. From the Pueblo tradition came the
vertical loom, striped patterns, a variety of weaves, and certain clothing
types.
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Figure 2. Navajo Weaver
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