Anasazi Culture in Utah
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

In October of 1492 Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the Americas. He failed to mention that North America was populated by at least ten million Native Americans, who arrived on the continent at least 20,000 years ago. Initially they were hunters and gatherers, but over time, resources were depleted and with the arrival of corn and squash at about 1500 BCE, agriculture developed. This was the birth of the Anasazi culture, the most sophisticated culture in North America for over a thousand years. There are over 150,000 archeological sites in San Juan County alone. Many of these sites are beautifully preserved today in cliff dwellings. This is the focus of the course. We will explore these sites and learn much of the Anasazi Culture in Utah.