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Prehistoric Southwest Collections

The American Southwest is home to a rich heritage of prehistoric cultures, as represented by the specimens collected by Donald Boudeman. This collection is a unique assemblage of items reflective of the lives of the people that called made this stark landscape their home for thousands of years. Objects reflect the every day utilitarian tasks of life, as well as the more ornamental and ritual aspects. While the exact age remains unknown, the majority of the collection is believed to be attributed to the Ancestral Pueblo culture between 800 and 1200 A.D.

The collection derives from a large swath of the Southwest, including the Mesa Verde region of Colorado, Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, and a large portion from San Juan County, Utah. Much of the collection consists of organic objects that have survived the test of time through the preservative qualities of the Southwest’s dry climate. Such preservation is rare in North America and provides a unique link to lives of these people.

From the wide array of artifact types various aspects of Pueblo life can be studied. Personal ornamentation can be found in the large assortment of jewelry, including bracelets, pendants, and necklaces. The large quantity of marine shell beads are products of prehistoric trade networks and illustrate the wide sphere of influence that these peoples were engaged in. Yucca sandals and a cradleboard are more objects that are demonstrative of the life of the individual. 

Different tools found in the collection speak to the various tasks necessary to sustain the Ancestral Pueblos way of life. An animal-hide quiver, a full set of reed arrows, and yucca snares are reflective of the important role of hunting. Dried corncobs and squash stems are representatives of the types of crops grown by these early agriculturalists. Bone awls and scrapers would have been used in the preparation of animal hides.

Until pottery was introduced to the region around 500 A.D. baskets were the principle form of vessel. Housed as part of the larger collection of Native American baskets are several yucca coil baskets from southeastern Utah. These serve as prehistoric analogs to the more contemporary Pueblo baskets in the museum’s collections.

This collection was acquired by Kalamazoo resident Donald Boudeman in the first half of the twentieth century. While the artifacts he recovered are beautifully preserved, the techniques used to acquire them are reflective of the lower collecting standards of the time. Without their site provenience the objects have lost much of their context and the knowledge that they can tell us. The Boudeman collection remains a stellar sampling though of prehistoric artifacts of the American Southwest. As of now this is a collection that has not been part of any extensive exhibitions or publications.

Donors and Fieldworkers

Donald and Donna Boudeman

Cradle board, Buter Canyon, Utah, 500-1300 CE

Snare, Ancestral Pueblo, Arizona

Turquoise pendant, Hovenweep Canyon, Colorado