Fire, Ash, and Sanctuary: Pyrotechnology as Protection in the Precolonial Northern Rio Grande

Agent of Change: The Deposition and Manipulation of Ash in the Past • Berghahn Books • New York • Published In • Pages: 76-93 •
By Adler, Michael A.

Abstract

This survey chapter discusses the use of ash and other fire-generated materials in Ancestral Pueblo settlements in the northern Rio Grande region. The author begins by surveying ethnographic reports of ash use among indigenous groups in the Southwest and Great Basin regions to understand the potential reasons for ash use in prehistoric contexts beyond just cooking. He then turns to archaeological data to explore the extensive use of fire, ash, and other pyrotechnic products across indigenous communities in the region, focusing on excavated architectural and mortuary contexts from the northern Rio Grande, especially the Taos and Picuris areas. The author argues that these fire-related actions and products show that ash plays two major roles -- it is used as a part of major transition ceremonies and as an instrument for healing. The author concludes that these ethnographic observations inform and illuminate archaeological contexts that contain ash, charcoal, and fire.

Note

This chapter makes no attempt to assert causality, and seeks only to identify cultural practices involving ash and their prevalence in the Southwest United States.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
eHRAF World CulturesResearcher's own1,207 paragraphs about ash across nine different Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.

Hypotheses (10)

HypothesisSupported
Ash serves as a form of witchcraft protection amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Supported (8 of 9)
Ash serves as a form of infant protection amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Supported (8 of 9)
Ash is used in healing ceremonies amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Supported (7 of 9)
Ash is used to beautify infants amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Mostly Unsupported (2 of 9)
Ash is used in human burial amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Mostly Unsupported (2 of 9)
Ash is used in war medicine protection amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Mostly Unsupported (2 of 9)
Ash is used in scalp ceremony protection amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Mostly Unsupported (1 of 9)
Ash is used to provide luck in hunting amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Mostly Unsupported (1 of 9)
Ash is used to aid crop fertility amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Mostly Unsupported (1 of 9)
Ash is used at the end of ceremonies amongst Southwestern and Great Basin cultures.Mostly Unsupported (1 of 9)
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: jacob.kalodner