As with archaeological sites around the world, the sites in the Southwestern United States sometimes include human remains among the finds. While there have been naturally mummified Anasazi remains found at various sites, the majority of the remains have been skeletal. Thus the information presented in this paper will rely heavily on skeletal remains.
By studying the remains of humans, both in situ and in the laboratory setting, anthropologists can learn much about a society from long ago. Among other aspects, social customs, social stratification, and differentiation in work among men and women may be inferred. A generally accepted theory is that the Anasazi were egalitarian with a relatively unstratified society. Women were primarily responsible for food and animal preparation, this included grinding grains, specifically maize, and skinning and butchering animals. Men were primarily responsible for hunting and trading. Along with the social aspects, diet, diseases and general health may be studied through skeletal remains. Evidence shows that the earlier Basketmaker Anasazi were under less nutritional stress than the later Puebloan Anasazi. During the Basketmaker periods the Anasazi relied heavily on maize and meat in their diet, however the diet was varied with other food items such as amaranth, cacti, and other plants. The Puebloan diet also varied, but relied less heavily on meat and more on maize and beans.
Researchers can not be positive about which theories are the correct explanation for the skeletal findings, it is possible for many theories to fit the data well enough to be working hypotheses. Unfortunately there is often more than one working theory to explain the same data. Due to the mass burials found, some of the prevalent theories about the Puebloan Anasazi are that they were cannibals, there was extreme warfare between villages, or that they were in fear of witchcraft. This paper will look at skeletal findings from various Anasazi sites throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. The paper will discuss the ideas these findings have provoked about the social structure of the Anasazi society and the theories about the Anasazi, as well as give the view of the author.