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You are here: Experts > Science > Archaelogy > Archaeology > Ancient Anasazi pueblo peoples
Archaeology - Ancient Anasazi pueblo peoples
Expert: Ralph Salier - 11/3/2009
Question
I have did much research and study of over 6 years of the peoples of this Southwest Colorado area after the recovery and discovery of a very ancient primitive single hole mudtone whistle; strongly believed to be that of the first discovery of the earliest known wind instrument, a Shaman's medicine whistle.
In the process of trying to get this very important cultural artifact finds exposure known; I have been met with much opposition of acceptance, by being ignored, refuted, denial from University archaeologists and museums of it's existence. Is there a reasonable reason for this reaction ?
Artifact featured and other tools recovered from the same private property location can be seen at:
http://ancientanasaziartifacts.blogspot.com/
Thank you,
Robert Thomas
Answer
Hi Robert,
You are running into several issues. First of all is that you are viewed as a rank amateur and any digging you have done would be viewed as a) illegal b) pot hunting c) damaging sites to the highest degree. Most professional archaeologists take a very dim view of "collectors" and have little time for them. I have worked with many amateurs over the years and have grown to respect their views and ideas.....
The clay pipes may in fact be something different such as an oil lamp or perhaps a sacred sand vessel, or a spirit blower or even a tobacco pipe. Pipes or whistles were generally carved out of hollow reed or even corn stalk which is quite durable. Fired clay tobacco pipes are known from the early woodland period in the Midwest and all the way through the contact period. The peoples of the 4 corners area generally carved very beautiful stone tobacco pipes but this does not mean that they did not make some out of clay. They have a well formed clay pot culture. The reed flutes are among the earliest known wind instruments along with stringed instruments. Some of these wind and string instruments are known from paleolithic sites in Europe and the middle east and some wind (reed) instruments have been preserved in North America relating back to the Early Archaic period in the upper midwest and on the northwest coast. So, these clay flutes would not be the oldest known. The interpretation as clay whistles may be part of the problem, why would they make a whistle of clay when they had ceremonial reed flutes?
I have seen similar artifacts from Chaco Canyon and they are being depicted as spirit blowers. These are similar in nature to those used by other cultures in northern Mexico and down into central America.
They would put ash or crushed medicinal herbs into the bowl and then blow these into or onto the "patient", to help drive away the evil spirits or illness.
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