Existing comment:
Trade
Trading with neighbors in prehistoric time was essential as few tribes were self sufficient.
The Sinagua acquired Anasazi black-on-white and Hopi black-on-yellow pottery, parrots from Mexico (probably for ceremonial purposes), and seashells from the Gulf of Mexico. Hohokam traders from the south and northern Sinagua and Anasazi came here for salt from the lake deposits, argillite -- a soft, red stone valued for ornaments -- and copper ore from the Black Hills.
Traders brought news of other tribes along with their goods. Changes in customs and ideas frequently followed the trade routes.
We still have much to learn about the people and practices of early trading ventures. Was there only informal bartering between neighbors or did tribes set up trading posts in other villages? Did they have trading fairs? What was their medium of exchange -- a bag of salt for two pots? |