Trade with Far Off Places

Trade with Far Off Places. . When Ancestral Pueblo people attended events at the great kiva, they probably brought local food and craft items to exchange for imported goods. In addition to the exchange of things, whole "libraries" of information came with these items. This information covered the science, history, philosophy, and geography (among other things) of the social groups that used these exotic objects. For example, when a macaw feather was obtained, the new owner probably learned the traditions and meanings that accompanied the feather's use, such as where the feather came from, when and why to use the feather, and who should be allowed to wear it. The supplier of the feather might also share rituals, songs, or other oral traditions that centered around macaws., Macaw feathers were traded into this area from present-day Mexico, indicating a far-reaching exchange network., Copper bells from present-day northwestern Mexico likely adorned dancers. These bells are almost always associated with the locations of great houses and great kivas., Seashells from the Pacific Coast and Gulf of California arrived in the Four Corners region over 2,000 years ago. Shells are used in traditional dances today to evoke the sound of rain., Pottery was produced and traded by local and distant Pueblo communities. Prior to 1100 CE, red ware pottery was made in southeastern Utah and exported to other regions., Turquoise and other locally sourced stones, like obsidian and jet, were traded among Pueblo communities., Map of movement of goods from outside the Mesa Verde region. A macaw feather was found in an alcove site just a few miles south of here. The site was in use at the same time as the Edge of the Cedars great house.