Basketry formed an essential element of ancestral Pueblo culture in southwestern Colorado. Baskets continued to be used for a wide variety of purposes even after the introduction of pottery into the area. Baskets weigh much less and thus easier to transport than pottery vessels, and, unlike pottery, they didn’t break when dropped.  Watch these videos to learn about how Pueblo people today still make things from yucca using both traditional and modern methods.

This video clip features Peter from Zia Pueblo. He discusses storytelling and the stories and traditions that his ancestors have passed down. Yucca tradition for making cordage is discussed in the video as you can use yucca for anything that uses string or tape

This video clip features Peter from Zia Pueblo.  He discusses storytelling and the stories and traditions that his ancestors have passed down.  Yucca tradition for making cordage is discussed in the video as you can use yucca for anything that uses string or tape.

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History Colorado

Creating Yucca Cordage video

For centuries, yucca plants have grown all over the Mesa Verde region. Ancestral Pueblo people took advantage of the versatility of yucca leaves and roots year round. They used its fibers much like we use string or yarn. Pueblo people today still make things from yucca using both traditional and modern methods.

What can the traditions passed down from generation to generation tell us about ancient technology?  

Yucca fiber strand.  Yucca is turned into fibers that can then be woven or strung into cord or rope to be used for other things.

Yucca Fiber

This video clip features Peter from Zia Pueblo. He discusses how to prepare the yucca plant so it can turn into fibers.


This video clip features Peter from Zia Pueblo.  He discusses how to prepare the yucca plant so it can turn into fibers.

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Preparing Yucca video

Turning yucca plants into finished products took hard work. Ancestral Pueblo people chewed, pounded, and scraped tough, stringy fibers from yucca leaves. Then they spun or twisted the fibers to make rope, nets, baskets, clothes, sandals, blankets, and more. Men and women traditionally had specific jobs in the process, but tasks ultimately required a collective effort. 

Using the last video clip, what conclusions can you draw about how this object might have been used by the Ancestral Pueblo people over 800 years ago? 


Awl, Turkey bone

This video clip features Peter from Zia Pueblo. He discusses how to braid or twist cordage from yucca fibers.

This video clip features Peter from Zia Pueblo.  He discusses how to braid or twist cordage from yucca fibers.

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Making yucca cordage video

Once created, cordage could be used for a variety of things. From watertight baskets to sandals and rope, Ancestral Pueblo people used the yucca plant to help solve a variety of everyday design problems. This sandal is from the Mesa Verde region of the United States and is several hundred years old. 

Think like a Geographer. What natural resources were used to make this? Where did they come from? What patterns exist with similar objects across places and spaces? How did people use this object to interact with their natural environment?

Sandal made of yucca from Mesa Verde region.  Straps wrapped around toe and ankle.

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Standards for Ways of Knowing From Ancestors, Yucca Example

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework