The best stuff I was not able to take pictures of, mostly because they were found in burial sites or extremely scared to the tribes. Of course, there were TONS of pottery sherds (yes they are sherds, not shards) and some really cool pieces that were completely intact. Moccasins, yucca fiber sandals, and every type of pottery you can imagine. I saw:
A mug with a false bottom. It rattles! Those especially are so rare because they are only used for ceremony and the ones that are still around are usually found broken.
A pot that might have been used for drinking cacao. It had an agitator bar across the top of the rim and was really specially painted. BUT it had been washed as soon as it was collected, so no hope left of testing it for cacao residue. No ones knows if chocolate was traded this far because of the washing but it very well could have happened. They traded for Macaws from Mexico, so why not chocolate as well? A few 100 miles south there was evidence of cacao residue. The mystery continues..
Lastly I got to see a pt that looked like a dog curled around in a half circle. It was perfectly designed and was originally used as a canteen for ceremonies in the kivas. Actually it was a badger for the badger clan, but so perfectly made.
It is really fun getting to see all of the stuff that is "too cool" to put on display for just everyday visitors. Sorry I don't have more pictures!
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