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The Ancestral Puebloans were an ancient American Indian people that existed from approximately 1200 B.C.E. (Before Common Era) to 1150 C.E. (Common Era.) They were known for their basket-making and their unusual mode of living: they made their homes in hollowed-out caves in large cliffs.
The Ancestral Puebloans lived in what is known today as the Four Corners region: present-day Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. They raised maize (corn) and squash, which seems to have been their main sources of nutrition. Their living arrangements were highly communal, with their cliff dwellings physically connecting all parts of the tribe to one another. These dwellings were accessible only by rope or rock climbing, and provided excellent protection from enemies. The Ancestral Puebloans’ most known habitation is in Chaco Canyon (which is now a National Historical Park). However, they also lived in at least two other major sites: Kayena, in Arizona, and Mesa Verde, which is in New Mexico and Colorado-- and the location of John and Alton’s adventure. After the collapse of the Ancient Puebloan civilization, the remaining tribes people moved from the cliff areas and ultimately assimilated into other tribes, such as the Pueblo (obviously), the Hopi and the Zuni. The Ancestral Puebloans drew many petroglyphs (drawings that were etched on the walls of their cave dwellings). These petroglyphs have been preserved due to the extraordinarily dry conditions of the canyons where they lived, and typically showed hunting scenes which are thought to have been made as a type of sympathetic magic: a common belief held by many prehistoric peoples that drawing a scene will make that scene a reality. Many other of the petroglyphs show astronomical images. Some scientists believe the Ancestral Puebloans drew a petroglyph of the well-documented supernova in 1054 C.E. that formed the horseshoe crab nebula known as the “sun daggers petroglyph.” The Ancestral Puebloans’ baskets were traded widely throughout North and Central America. The baskets have been found in Mexico and in Canada, which likely means they were traded many, many times to end up so far from where they came from. Many baskets were found in the abandoned cliff dwellings, some still containing remnants of corn, squash and cotton (which was used to make colorful clothing), and it seems likely that the dwellings were abandoned quickly, or that the population decreased significantly over a brief time period. Scientists are uncertain why the Ancient Puebloans abandoned their dwellings and their unique way of life. Some believe it was due to a sustained dry climate that made it impossible to grow their crops; others that it was because of a revolution, where the workers overthrew the ruling elite. Some even think sustained warfare might have been the cause. No one, at this point, actually knows-- but this unique society lasted over 2000 years and was a highly influential culture. There is evidence that other societies adopted their basket-making methods, and they made some of the earliest roads in North America (possibly even the first road in the entire continent!). In fact, to date, over 200 miles of Ancient Puebloan roads have been identified. Who knows what other great remnants from the Ancient Puebloan culture is there still waiting to be found? |
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GLOSSARY
Astronomical relating to the natural science that studies space and the stars.
Dwellings a place of residence.
Four Corners Region region in the United States made up of four southwestern states-- Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Horseshoe Crab Nebula supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus.
Petroglyphs image or drawing created by carving onto a rock’s surface.
Supernova explosion of a star.
Sympathetic Magic primitive ritual using symbolic images in hopes of making what’s depicted in the images occur in real life.
Dwellings a place of residence.
Four Corners Region region in the United States made up of four southwestern states-- Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Horseshoe Crab Nebula supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus.
Petroglyphs image or drawing created by carving onto a rock’s surface.
Supernova explosion of a star.
Sympathetic Magic primitive ritual using symbolic images in hopes of making what’s depicted in the images occur in real life.
