Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC1The Southwest III: The ChacoPhenomenonLecture 16North American ArchaeologySpring 2009UCSCPueblo II AD 900-1150 Most people in No.SW lived in smalldispersed ruralsettlements Integrated into largeregional systemcentered in San JuanBasin--THE CHACOPHENOMENONThe Chaco Phenomenon Incorporated between 25-50,000 sq km Characterized by Large planned architecture Water control features Shared ritual system Luxury trade items Shared ceramic tradition Outliers--Great Houses,Great Kivas Roads and shrinesHow big was system? What was nature of integration?Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC2“Downtown Chaco” Chaco Canyon nowseen as single site “Semi-urban”habitation andceremonial center Planned, modified“cityscape” Population debated,but maybe ca. 5000people at height ofsystemCanyon Settlement Structure Hosta Butte sites Small unplannedhamlets On both sides ofwash, but more onsouth Contemporaneous w/Great HousesCasa Rinconada “Great Kiva” Assoc. w/ hamlets on So.side of wash Site of dramatic publicrituals Astronomical alignments,calendrical observations Massive posts carried40-80 km from mountainsAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC3Great Houses Nine--Contemporaneous Mostly on N side ofwash Strategically located Large, multi-storied,planned buildings What were they for?Pueblo Bonito Largest Great House Over 650 rooms Planned Construction Well organized labor Multiple Stories“Over-constructed” Rubble core masonry Ashlar veneer Different patternsreflect differentbuilding episodesAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC4Room Suites Household suites Big Room suites Road roomsEnclosed Plaza Space and KivasGreat Kivas and Tower KivasAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC5Burials and Luxury Goods Burials scarce elites?, priests? Exotic goods onlyfound in GreatHouses Pottery, chert, timberfrom Chuska Mts. Copper bells,macaws from MexicoTurquoise Production and ExchangeWater Control Features andIntensive Agriculture System ofheadgates, damsand ditches on Nside of wash Assoc. w/ GreatHouses Controlled by elite?Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC6Roads Straight Well-constructed,wide Lead to outliers,resources,canyon, shrines “sacredgeography” Purpose??Stairs and RampsCasa RiconadaChetro KetlPueblo BonitoPueblo AltoNorthSouthChaco as the “Middle Place”Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC7Outliers Great Houses and/orGreat Kiva Often in dramaticsettings Assoc. w/ smallhamlets Colonists or localelite emulatingChaco?Salmon Ruin, NMAztec RuinChaco’s successor as the “Middle Place” in 12th and 13th c.??Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC8ExplainingChaco Redistribution Model Jim Judge Pilgrimage CenterModel Lekson et al. Segmentary StateModel Peer Polity
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