Virgin Anasazi facts for kids

The Virgin Anasazi were an ancient group of people, part of the larger Ancestral Puebloan culture. They lived in the western part of the American Southwest, mainly around the Virgin River and Muddy River. Their territory also included the western Colorado Plateau and the Moapa Valley, reaching down to the Colorado River in the south.

These people lived in areas that are now Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. They were present from about the year 1 CE until around 1200 CE. This time period covers what archaeologists call the Early Basketmaker II Era to the Early Pueblo III periods. Their neighbors were the Fremont culture to the north and another Ancestral Puebloan group, the Kayenta Anasazi, to the east.

Where Did the Virgin Anasazi Live?

The Virgin Anasazi lived in three main areas, each with different natural features:

The Plateau Region

This area is part of the Colorado Plateau, a large, high landform. It has many different natural resources and environments. You would find conifer forests in the higher parts and juniper and pinyon pine trees in the lower areas. There were also wide desert plains where plants like sagebrush grew commonly. This region included parts of the famous Grand Canyon and the eastern edge of the Great Basin.

The St. George Basin

The St. George Basin is located near what is now St. George, Utah. The Virgin Anasazi people in this area often built their homes and villages close to streams. These sites were usually found at elevations between 800 and 1300 meters (about 2,600 to 4,200 feet) above sea level.

The Lowland Virgin Area

This lowland region includes the areas around the Virgin and Muddy Rivers, which flow into the Moapa Valley. It is part of the Basin and Range Province, a landscape known for its many mountain ranges and valleys. The plants here were typical desert species, such as creosote bush, mesquite, and cholla, along with other desert shrubs.

How Did the Virgin Anasazi Live?

Unlike some other Ancestral Puebloan groups to the east, who built very large structures like those at Chaco Canyon, the Virgin Anasazi lived in smaller groups. Their homes were usually small pueblo buildings with only a few rooms. These were often used seasonally.

The Virgin Anasazi were farmers who grew corn to feed themselves. They often used "dry" farming methods, meaning they relied on groundwater and rain to water their crops instead of building large irrigation systems. However, later on, people living near rivers and streams started using check-dams and canals to bring water to their fields.

Besides farming, they also gathered wild foods from their local environment. They collected pine nuts from Pinyon pine trees. They also hunted animals like mule deer, jack rabbits, and other rabbits for food.