The Tabeguache Cave Collection

About the Collection

Tabeguache Cave, spanning roughly 125 feet and featuring a forty-foot overhang, housed artifacts from three distinct periods of Basketmaker II occupancy. The cave's northerly orientation, devoid of direct sunlight, led Hurst to hypothesize its use as a summer dwelling. Logs from the cave were traced back to the 300s CE. Hurst's archaeological digs uncovered cultural residues as deep as forty inches, which included spear points, tools made from bones and wood, and remnants of corn, squash, and acorns. Additionally, fragments of baskets, a sandal made from yucca leaves, and a retaining wall with a platform portioning off some of the floor space were discovered. A five-foot petroglyph attributed to the Basketmaker era was found on one cave wall, featuring a humanoid depiction.


Objects