Head Trophies and Scalping: Images in Southwest Rock Art

Abstract

The taking of trophy heads was widespread in the NewWorld, and the various meanings it may have had must be sought within the context of each practicing culture. With the beginning of maize horticulture in the American Southwest and into the ethnographic present, there is evidence for head-taking and scalping (Cole 1985, 1989; Schaafsma 2000). Even earlier claims for the presence of this practice could be made, based on the presence of disembodied heads represented by anthropomorphs holding weapons in petroglyphs with Archaic origins along the San Juan River (Cole 1985:Fig. 5; Pachack 1994:Figs.1–4). This chapter, however, focuses on trophy heads and scalp-taking among the late prehistoric Pueblos and their ancestors.