| the Anasazi vs the Chaco? |
INTRODUCTION
If you're just touring the southwest (along our tour?!), you'll generally run into the anasazi (ancient ones of the Hopi) at Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado, and the Chaco around Farmington and northwestern New Mexico. Who's who? I had generally concluded the Anasazi were later than the Chaco, living in some of the Chaco ruins after the Chaco left (and went 'somewhere'). That is sort of correct, but not! More accurately, the Chaco seemed to have known the early Anasazi and 'maybe' even been their 'priests'. The photo of Chacoan wall-style to the right is from Salmon Ruins, just east of Farmington NM. This area bridged the anasazi to the north and Chaco here and to the south. |
|
THE ANASAZI (Ancient Ones) AND EARLY GROWTH
Much of the early anasazi development was in below-surface dwellings, known as pithouses (half below surface; half above). In the late 600s ce, during the 'Basketmaker III' period, the population flourished among dispersed family 'pithouses', each growing corn. Between 750 and 900ce, more extensive dwellings were built, consisting of a large pithouse used for cooking and sleeping, and a small cluster of grouped surface rooms adding more space. This became the 'Pueblo I' period. During this period the 'great kiva' appeared, usually shared among several family/clan groups or occupied by a higher status family (example near Delores). But in the late 800s and through the 900s, a severe drought was apparent, with the population decreasing significantly. |
|
THE CHACO GROW COINCIDENT WITH ANASAZI DECLINES Curiously, further south in the area known as 'Chaco', the 900s population increased about the same time as the above anasazi were decreasing. Connection? However, the early Chaco construction primarily involved a unique 'U' shaped plan. Most significantly, the Chaco built what are called 'great houses', which used parallel rows of well dressed rock with fill in-between. Rooms were considerably larger and room heights much higher. Enter the 'D' designs, very large kivas and 'Pueblo Bonito' with its cousins. |
|
ANASAZI GOOD TIMES RETURN In the mid- and late-1000s, good times returned to the more northern Anasazi area, with the population increasing again. But curiously, between 1075 and 1130 (late Pueblo II period), the Chaco-style great houses also appeared in 'anasazi-land' ... Chimney Rock, Escalante, Porter, Lowry (all Col.), and Bluff (Utah). Though smaller, they were usually attached to the older anasazi-style dwellings. Some scholars believe these were occupied by high-status elite (kind of like catholic priests much later on). |
|
THE CHACO CULTURAL ZENTIH AND DECLINE In the early 1100s, Chacoan Aztec (West/East) and Salmon were built at the confluence of the Animas and San Juan Rivers. Both were 'classic' Chacoan style and massive ... indeed they are 'so' Chacoan, some scholars believe they rivaled their counterparts further south. Among both the anasazi, and chacoan, trade goods appeared, suggesting a free flow of trading across the southwest. This became the height of Chacoan culture, when much of what impresses you at Chaco NM was built. However, in the mid-1100s, another drought period emerged, with a measurable decline and eventual disappearance of the Chaco styles. During this same period, instead of the massive ponderosa pines for ceiling support, smaller and closer juniper were used, suggesting reduced circumstances. |
|
THE ANASAZI TOO HAVE PROBLEMS Further north, the anasazi archeological record is mixed. Total abandonment didn't occur, but the population dropped, with few examples of new construction during the period. Unlike the earlier anasazi drought period, nearby Chacoan pueblos did not expand but slowly died. With the early 1200s, boomtimes were back and the anasazi population grew again, often in the form of farming villages. Two-story buildings stand out as occupied by the leading families. But this time, they had little of the chacoan styles. By the late 1200s, Aztec and Salmon were re-occupied, along with new communities on rims of canyons and near springs within the canyons (Pueblo III period). This was the era of Mesa Verde's Cliff Palace, and Spruce Tree House. Canyon oriented sites sprouted higher towers as seen at Hovenweep NM. However, it was in the later 1200s, that heavy drought returned, and warfare increased among the anasazi. Villages became more protected, with several examples of extreme violence across the area. It was also during this period, that the whole area began depopulating. By the 1300s, the whole area was generally empty. What happened? |
|
SUMMARY: ONE THEORY Much of scholar-land is at a loss to explain the Chacoan culture, or to explain its total failure. Chaco NM proper appears to have largely been ceremonial ... very similar to the Japanese Tokugawa during the shoganate period. However there appears to have been a 'hold' on surrounding communities, with some scholars suggesting 'religion' and others ruthless power. Hard to say. I'm most influenced by the attachment of Chacoan style architecture onto Anasazi pueblos. Chacoan walls are expensive. It just 'looks' like religion 'brought home'. However with the 1100s drought, I suspect the 'religion' failed in its promises and Chaco-ism died quickly. What about the anasazi disappearance? Well, like the earlier drought, instead of a population increase at Chaco, there was an increase in villages along the Rio Grande river. Maybe the cause was disease? Fighting? Or just one more over-whelming drought? I'm guessing the latter ... else did they likely re-settle near a large river? However, suppose it 'could' be 'all of the above', I guess! What do you think? |
| Copyright ©, 2008, dmbarnhart |
|
