University of Arizona

                                             Special Collections will be closed December 20, 2023 through January 1, 2024 in observance of the University Holiday break.

Who Were the Big Bend Basket-Makers?

Artifacts from Big Bend Basket Maker Caves, undated

George Castor Martin was a historical writer from Terrell Wells, TX. The collection contains a typescript about the archaeology of early native peoples in the southwest region of Texas and across the border into Coahuila, Mexico. Martin describes a culture, also referred to as Toboso, that he has named the Big Bend Basket-Makers, because of similarities with the Basket Makers of Arizona and New Mexico. He discusses linguistic groups and migrations, as well as diagnostic traits related to skull shape, textiles, baskets, cloud-blowers, and projectile points. Photographs of a map and projectile points are attached. The title page includes a holograph inscription: "Copy made for William A. Duffen, compliments of George C. Martin."