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Anasazi Chaco Phenomenon

Type Event Region American Southwest Time 901–1000

In the 10th century Chaco Canyon in the American Southwest became the political and ceremonial center of Anasazi civilization;…

Timeline

  1. 900–980Pueblo Bonito · New MexicoStone Great Houses such as Pueblo Bonito underwent multiple phases of expansion in the 10th century, forming grand complexes of hundreds of rooms. Precise masonry, multi-story structures, and central plaza layouts reflect a highly organized social and religious life.
  2. 920–1000Chaco Canyon · New MexicoStraight roads radiating from Chaco Canyon connected dozens of outlying Great Houses and ceremonial sites, totaling over a hundred kilometers in length. The road system integrated the settlement network of the southwestern Colorado Plateau, making Chaco the hub of regional political and religious activity.
  3. 930–1000Fajada Butte · New MexicoChaco elites controlled long-distance turquoise trade from California and Mexico, concentrating wealth and power. Building orientations and astronomical markers at sites like Fajada Butte reveal sophisticated calendrical knowledge; solstice ceremonies reinforced religious authority and social integration.

Sources