Classic Vernal Style Necklaced Anthropomorphs: Continuity and Change, AD 500-1300

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Images of the Uinta Fremont (A.D. 0 - 1300)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Northern Uinta Basin Rock Image Recording Project (NURIRP) documents 451 anthropomorphs representing an array of attributes, most importantly necklace types. In this presentation, I identify three sub-styles of CVS anthros wearing necklaces: (1) seven variants of a solid-pecked or abraded “collar” necklace, often with a vertical midline and horizontal belt, in addition to a free-floating symbolic complex comprised of collar, vertical midline (torso), and horizontal line (belt); (2) anthros wearing small beaded necklaces with one or more strands; and (3) single strands of large pendants. CVS anthros wearing necklaces appear in three phases: Early CVS anthros wearing collars (AD 500-750), perhaps sharing ethnicity with BM II-III. Middle period CVS anthros (AD 750-1000) wearing small beaded necklaces. Late CVS anthros (AD 1000-1300) representing a distinct ethnic group identified by single strand large pendant necklaces. Superpositioning of large pendant necklaces over earlier collars suggests that tension may have existed between two associated ethnically distinct groups. I interpret the symbolic significance of collars and small bead necklaces to represent change in the depiction of an extinct Hopi New Moon clan symbol which still holds significance for the Hopi agricultural calendar and related ceremonies.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Images of the Uinta Fremont (A.D. 0 - 1300)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52862