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Kachinas In The Pueblo World
Examines the role of kachinas (rain deities) in the cultures of the Rio Grande, Zuni, and Hopi pueblos. Considers the origins of the kachina cult, traces the figure of the kachina to a Mesoamerican original, and looks at the fortunes of the rain deities after the Spanish and Anglo conquests of the Pueblo homeland. Discusses the transition from religious to art object, and considers the role of the kachina in allowing Puebloan beliefs to endure. Includes color photos and b&w illustrations. Schaafsma is a research associate of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico. Material originated at an October 1991 seminar. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
200 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1994
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December 3, 2012
New Agey Anglos aside, learn the realities of Puebloan religion
Polly Schaafsma, an expert on Ancestral Puebloan rock art, edits 16 chapters that look at various aspects of the kachinas of the Puebloan world.
This includes:
1. Just what are kachinas?
2. Whence did the kachina phenomenon come from/arise?
3. What led to it landing on fertile soil in the late Ancestral Puebloan world?
4. What was the relation in kachina development between western pueblos and Rio Grande pueblos?
5. How did kachina worship/cult survive the Spanish missionary effort to wipe it out? Related to that, how much survived, and can we trace what changes happened?
The intellectual level on some pieces may be fairly high, but I have to disagree with another person; you do not need to be an anthropology or archaeology grad student to get a welter of information out of this book.
One should have a basic knowledge of Ancestral Puebloan history, but any reaonably informed "Southwest buff" probably is OK as a starting point.
Polly Schaafsma, an expert on Ancestral Puebloan rock art, edits 16 chapters that look at various aspects of the kachinas of the Puebloan world.
This includes:
1. Just what are kachinas?
2. Whence did the kachina phenomenon come from/arise?
3. What led to it landing on fertile soil in the late Ancestral Puebloan world?
4. What was the relation in kachina development between western pueblos and Rio Grande pueblos?
5. How did kachina worship/cult survive the Spanish missionary effort to wipe it out? Related to that, how much survived, and can we trace what changes happened?
The intellectual level on some pieces may be fairly high, but I have to disagree with another person; you do not need to be an anthropology or archaeology grad student to get a welter of information out of this book.
One should have a basic knowledge of Ancestral Puebloan history, but any reaonably informed "Southwest buff" probably is OK as a starting point.
Displaying 1 of 1 review