Perishable Archaeological Collections

YUCCA FIBER SANDALS

Culture: Anasazi
Dates: Basketmaker III, ca. AD 450-750
Location: Northeastern AZ
Material: yucca fiber

These scalloped toe, puckered heel sandals were made by a combination of plain weave and alternate pair twining of finely spun yucca fiber cordage. The raised, sometimes colored, designs on the soles of these sandals, in addition to being an expression of the makers' artistic sensibilities, may also have served to uniquely identify sandals and their weavers.