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Anasazi Migration
In the 1210s, after prolonged drought in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest, the Anasazi (Ancestral Puebloans) abandoned cliff dwellin…
Timeline
- 1215Four Corners region · American SouthwestTree-ring dating shows that the Four Corners region suffered severe, persistent drought from the late 12th to early 13th century; maize crops failed, and reservoirs and irrigation systems could no longer be maintained, forcing residents to reassess their settlement strategies.
- 1215–1220Mesa Verde National Park · ColoradoLarge cliff dwelling settlements such as Cliff Palace and Balcony House at Mesa Verde were systematically abandoned in the early 13th century; archaeological strata show residents deliberately removed valuables and burned some structures.
- 1215–1220Rio Grande Valley · New MexicoLarge numbers of Anasazi migrants moved south to the Rio Grande Valley, establishing new Pueblo settlements; some groups also entered the Hohokam cultural zone of Arizona, bringing about a fusion and transformation of pottery styles, architectural techniques, and cultural traditions.
Sources
- Ancestral Pueblo culture https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ancestral-Pueblo-culture
- The Chaco Meridian: One Thousand Years of Political and Ritual Power in the Ancient Southwest — Stephen H. Lekson (1999)