Dressing the Person: Clothing and Identity in the Casas Grandes World

A study of human effigies from the Medio-period (A.D. 1200–1450) at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes, reveals that clothing and adornments played a significant role in gender symbolism and identity expression. The research finds that males were associated with more elaborate dress, including headbands, while females were linked to fertility symbolism, such as cloud motifs and sternal decorations. Both sexes shared certain attire elements like arm bands, but distinct differences emerged in belts and sandals. The study also identifies continuities in dress from earlier cultures like the Classic Mimbres (A.D. 1000–1150) into historic northern Mexican and southwestern groups, suggesting persistent cultural practices. This analysis underscores how clothing and adornments encoded gender roles within a broader ritual system.

VanPool, C. S., VanPool, T. L., & Downs, L. W. (2017). DRESSING THE PERSON: CLOTHING AND IDENTITY IN THE CASAS GRANDES WORLD. American Antiquity, 82(2), 262–287. https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2017.4