Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com –  A person living in ancient Chaco Canyon who had six fingers or six toes was considered special among the Pueblo people.

Having an extra toe or finger was one way to gather plenty of respect.

Polydactyly, a condition in which a person or animal has more than five fingers or toes on one, or on each, hand or foot, has been encountered worldwide, both in ancient and modern times.

A mold of the six-toed footprint found in the plaster wall. Credit: Patricia L. Crown

Past research has up to now revealed only hints about its importance to the ancient culture.

Initially intrigued by the divine powers attributed to polydactyls among the Maya, researchers led by anthropologist Patricia Crown of the University of New Mexico conducted a comprehensive review of the evidence for the condition at the canyon’s sacred Pueblo Bonito site.

Scientists analyzed 96 skeletons excavated from Pueblo Bonito to learn more about polydactyls. Researchers also examined ancient swellings in Chaco Canyon adorned with relics and imagery of feet, many of which have extra toes. The researchers also found several sandals, sandal-shaped stones, and images of sandals, including evidence of a jog feature to accommodate an extra toe.

This six-toed footprint was found in the south wall plaster of a room in Pueblo Bonito. The plaster is discolored from a fire. Credit: Patricia L. Crown

Patricia Crown and her team have discovered that people with extra digits were treated as special and with a lot of respect. The ancient Chaco Canyon society did not view six-toed individuals as supernatural, but this polydactyly form granted them exalted status in life and death.

“We found that people with six toes, especially, were common and seemed to be ᴀssociated with important ritual structures and high-status objects like turquoise,” Crown said.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico. Credit: Adobe Stock – ricktravel

The pedal art and ornaments suggest that polydactyly was a respected and familiar physical trait, not merely an artistic or mythical representation.

Scientists still haven’t been able to figure out why the rate of polydactyly was higher among the Chacos than in other regions nearby.

A petroglyph of a six-toed foot by the Puebla community 1,000 years ago. Credit: Chaco Culture National Park / Patricia L. Crown

One possibility is genetic inheritance – minor developmental anomalies, like short fingers and toes, are often pᴀssed from generation to generation.

Another hypothesis speculates that the frequency of extra digits in the population may indicate an environmental trigger in Chaco Canyon. Possible triggers could include exposure to hazardous substances during pregnancy or specific components of a mother’s diet while pregnant.

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Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer