Table of Contents
Where did the Chaco people come from?
For over 2,000 years, Pueblo peoples occupied a vast region of the south-western United States. Chaco Canyon, a major centre of ancestral Pueblo culture between 850 and 1250, was a focus for ceremonials, trade and political activity for the prehistoric Four Corners area.
What was the spiritual significance of Chaco Canyon?
Some people believe the primary purpose of Chaco Canyon was as a center of spiritual practice for all the surrounding tribes. Of the hundreds of rooms, few have hearths, so it seems unlikely that people lived in them. There are many kivas — round rooms under the ground — that are roofless now.
What happened to the Chaco Indians?
By the 1300s, all of the villages and pueblos of Chaco Canyon were abandoned. As the ancient Indians left, their kivas were ceremonially burned, and most of their possessions were left behind.
Where is Chaco?
northwestern New Mexico
Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico.
Is Chaco Canyon sacred?
This history is of deep importance to the living ancestors of the ancient Pueblo people who live in communities in New Mexico and Arizona. Chaco Canyon is a sacred pilgrimage site for those who believe their ancestors still dwell in the ancient city.
Who were the inhabitants of Chaco Canyon?
Pueblo peoples like the Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni consider it a home of their ancestors. The canyon is vast and contains an impressive number of structures—both big and small—testifying to the incredible creativity of the people who lived in the Four Corners region of the U.S. between the 9th and 12th centuries.
Why was Chaco abandoned?
But by the end of the 12th century, Chaco Canyon had been abandoned. No one knows why for sure, but the thinking among archaeologists has been that excessive logging for firewood and construction caused deforestation, which caused erosion, which made the land unable to sustain a large population.
Where did the Chaco people go?
Chaco’s influence continued at Aztec, Mesa Verde, the Chuska Mountains, and other centers to the north, south, and west. In time, the people shifted away from Chacoan ways, migrated to new areas, reorganized their world, and eventually interacted with foreign cultures.
Who lived at Chaco?
This region was historically occupied by Ancestral Puebloan people (better known as Anasazi) and is now part of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Some of the most famous sites of Chaco Canyon are Pueblo Bonito, Peñasco Blanco, Pueblo del Arroyo, Pueblo Alto, Una Vida, and Chetro Kelt.
What happened to the people of Chaco?
As the 14th century drew to a close, the entire Chaco population abandoned the canyon, never to return. For archaeologists, the Chaco phenomenon offers a chance to understand the rise and fall of a cultural ideal. Though this ideal may have originated between the walls of Chaco Canyon, its power reached far beyond.
Why did people leave Chaco?
It’s not completely clear why the people left Chaco Canyon, but prolonged drought is one possible explanation. It was around this time that communities in other places in the region, such as Mesa Verde and the Chuska Mountains, grew in size and importance.