GENDER, ANATOMICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND POTTERY PRODUCTION - IMPLICATIONS OF AN ANATOMICALLY UNUSUAL BIRTH DEPICTED ON MIMBRES POTTERY FROM SOUTHWESTERN NEW-MEXICO

The anatomical details of a birth scene depicted oil Classic Mimbres ( A.D. 1000-1150) bowls from southwestern New Mexico can provide clues t o gender relations in Classic Mimbres society. The scenes show an infa nt emerging facing forward (unusual in human birth) with its arms up ( virtually unknown in human birth). These details suggest that the scen e was painted by someone unfamiliar with the birthing process. Ethnogr aphically, men rarely see human births. Thus, it is likely that the bi rth scene, and perhaps other Mimbres pottery designs, were painted by men.