ShmoopTube

00:04

[Dino and Coop singing]

00:12

It’s theme day at the cafeteria, everybody! [Shmoop school sign]

00:16

Today the lunch ladies have fixed up a meal representing the cuisine of the Anasazi people. [Lunch queue]

00:21

Just in case you need a reminder, the Anasazi were a Native people that lived in what is [The southwest is highlighted]

00:26

now the American Southwest.

00:27

And around the year 1300, they mysteriously disappeared. [Little people vanish off the map]

00:31

But Dolores has promised no “mystery meat” today.

00:35

Just some servings of corn, beans…

00:37

… and people?

00:38

Yup.

00:39

A group of archaeologists now believe that some of the Anasazi were cannibals. [Cafeteria lady brings over food and students look sick]

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Other archaeologists say charging the Anasazi with cannibalism is pretty extreme. [Court gavel being used]

00:47

They’re asking, “Where’s the proof?” [Anasazi being taken away]

00:49

We wonder if they've checked the pudding…

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Well, the Anasazi didn’t have a written language, so it’s not like they left behind

00:54

a menu for archaeologists to study. [Shovel digs up a menu]

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What they did find was human bones and markings on them that seemed to show the meat

01:00

had been cut off of them… [Bones in the ground]

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…stone tools with traces of human blood…

01:05

…evidence of charred bones and split skulls…

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… pots that appeared to have been polished inside from the stirring of bones...

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And, lastly, evidence of human tissue in fossilized remains of fecal matter.

01:16

Yeah, that means there were traces of people in their poop. [Scientist holding old poop saying "What a crappy job."]

01:20

So, could the ancient Anasazi restaurant reviews possibly have included praise for the local

01:24

rice and human brains? [Online review saying "the best rice and brain stew I have ever had"]

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Before you order out for lunch, there’s a different, contradictory story to explore.

01:30

That’s because what looks like evidence of cannibalism may actually just be evidence

01:34

of killing and dismembering witches.

01:35

…Sure that's not that much better, but…at least the menu might be safe? [Man sat a table burps]

01:39

Alright, so what’s the evidence for the witch argument?

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The so-called “cannibalized” bones were found with evidence like ashes and medicine

01:46

bundles that might indicate these were sites where witches were executed. [Gravestone that says [RIP Witches]

01:49

Today’s Pueblo Indians are descendants of the Anasazi.

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And their folklore talks about the proper way to get rid of a witch. [Girl reading 'Anasazi Folklore for Dummies']

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It includes capturing the witch, cutting him or her up into pieces until the “evil heart”

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is found, then destroying the whole thing so the witch’s ghost can’t come back and [Flames]

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haunt everyone.

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And what’s one of the signs that someone is a witch?

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Yup.

02:07

Cannibalism.

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So just like with their disappearance, we may never know whether the Anasazi were cannibals, [Human bones burning]

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or if they practiced gory witch executions.

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It’s yet another mystery these people left behind.

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But one thing is certain…

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We're definitely bringing a brown bag lunch tomorrow. [A hand on the plate of food]

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