Mesoamerican Antecedents of Sikyatki-Style Geometric Patterns on Textiles Depicted in Murals from the American Southwest

Abstract

This paper uses plane pattern symmetries to describe the structural arrangement of motifs in Sikyatki-style patterns on textiles depicted in fourteenth and fifteenth century AD kiva murals from Awat'ovi and Kawaika'a in Arizona and Pottery Mound in New Mexico. The analysis reveals that these textiles have pattern structures in common with designs on textiles, ceramic artifacts, and architectural decorations in the Postclassic Mixteca-Puebla style. These shared patterns and pattern structures were introduced into the American Southwest woven on fabric structures of textiles brought north from Mesoamerica via trade and migration routes along the Mexican West Coast and through the Sierra Madre.

Trade Relationships and Gene Flow at Pottery Mound Pueblo, New Mexico

“…Neither the architectonic ties nor the asseverated macaw skeleton have been confirmed by later researchers, despite several attempts to do so (David Phillips, 2019 personal communication). Parallels between Mesoamerican and Southwestern iconography and cosmology have been noted throughout the Southwest (Hays-Gilpin and Hill 1999; Schaafsma 2009; Washburn 2019). Similarities between Pottery Mound's murals and those in Mesoamerica could be related to the fact that this site offers a particularly rich iconographic legacy, rather than being a “center of Mexican influences” as reported by Hibben (1967:87).…”

“…Additionally, there is evidence for extensive interregional connections and trade that likely worked to shape the cultural lives and material expressions of many southwestern peoples (Crown and Hurst 2009; Eckert 2007; Franklin and Schleher 2012; Hibben 1960, 1966, 1967; Schaafsma 2009; Washburn 2019). Evidence for networking with other places throughout the Southwest and Mesoamerica comes from iconography (Hays-Gilpin and Hill 1999; Schaafsma 2009; Washburn 2019), trade goods (Crown and Hurst 2009; Crown et al 2015; McGuire 2005), and various architectural features (Haury 1945).…”

“…Washburn (2019) suggests Mesoamerican influences on iconography in kiva murals. Others have noted parallels between religious symbolism in the Pueblo world and that of Mesoamerica (McGuire 2011:27–28, Table 2.1).…”

Comparative Analysis of Three Analytical Methodologies for Polychrome Design: Ceramic Typology, Design Elements/Styles, and Design Symmetries on Chihuahuan Polychromes

“…Third, in the design systems defined here, color is used in vastly different ways than it was throughout the American Southwest where one-color designs prevailed until the 13th century (Washburn et al, 2010). By the late Pueblo III-Pueblo IV period, new uses of color appear on textiles (Teague and Washburn, 2013;Washburn, 2019) and on ceramic designs such as St Johns Polychrome and Gila Polychrome throughout central and southern Arizona and New Mexico (Munson & Hays-Gilpin, 2020). Since these vessels are decorated in three colors, typologists have labeled them polychromes.…”

“…Just as the ceramic designs displayed both symmetrically two-color patterns as well as colored patterns, so too did some textile designs. This situation on two kinds of media suggests that mistkes were made during copying of the new two-color system by both Southwestern weavers and potters (Teague, 1998, Washburn, 2019.…”