anasazi
UK[ˌænəˈsɑːzi]US[ˌænəˈsɑːzi]
n
A member of an ancient Native American culture that lived in the southwestern United States, known for building cliff dwellings and pueblos.
n
The culture or archaeological period associated with these people, flourishing from approximately 200–1300 CE.
Etymology
The term 'Anasazi' entered English in the early 20th century via anthropological and archaeological studies. It originates from the Navajo word 'anaasází', which translates literally as 'enemy ancestors' or 'ancient ones who are not us'. This exonym reflects the Navajo perspective on the ruins and remains of this earlier culture found within their traditional lands. While once standard in academic and popular use, the term is now often considered problematic due to its pejorative connotations in the source language. Many contemporary scholars and descendant Pueblo communities prefer terms like 'Ancestral Puebloans' or 'Ancestral Pueblo people', which more accurately and respectfully describe the cultural lineage.
Analysis
This is a loanword from the Navajo language (Diné bizaad), adopted into English as an unanalyzed simplex term. It is not composed of separable English or classical morphemes.
Examples
The Anasazi built intricate cliff dwellings at sites like Mesa Verde.
Archaeologists study pottery fragments to understand Anasazi trade networks.
The reasons for the dispersal of the Anasazi from their major centers remain a topic of research.