Introduction:
Chaco Canyon is home a diverse collection of the most fascinating archeological sites from ancient North America, and among these sites is the well-known Pueblo Bonito. This great house is undoubtedly the most famous of all Chaco Canyon great houses, with well over 350 ground rooms, 32 kivas, and thousands of significant artefacts relating to Anasazi culture. The buildings of Pueblo Bonito were occupied over a variety of years, spanning from ca. 850 until the early portion of the 1100s, with some later occupation towards the end of that same century.
Site Location and Setting:
Located in the southeast part of New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park houses many intriguing ruins. Within the canyon, Pueblo Bonito was …show more content…
This item diversity gives anthropologists a huge background to work with, culturally and practically. They are able to record and analyze artefacts found in burials as well as daily life, with surviving perishables that give important insight into the practices of the inhabitants of Pueblo Bonito. With such a diversity of items, it can be difficult to explain the exact function of this great house. During the Hyde expedition, it was believed that Pueblo Bonito was a simple domestic dwelling serving as a multi-family home. However, with further investigations, it seems that the great house was more probably used as a religious and cultural center. It is possible that families lived here, but much of the top levels are caved in and modern excavators must to rely on the small pieces of upper levels left, along with the journals and records from previous …show more content…
This room was possibly used as an aviary, and housed many types of birds. Most notably, a large number of scarlet macaw skeletons were found. This bird is indigenous to Central and South America, and this evidence confirms trade, if not travel, with peoples located in those southerly areas. Possible use for an aviary strongly suggests religious and ritualistic purposes, which hints at the ritualistic space theory behind Pueblo Bonito’s history. In this room alone, 14 macaw skeletons were recovered, among other species which include magpies and one owl. Well documented use of macaw feathers is found among Anasazi culture, and under those circumstances it is no surprise that these birds were kept in captivity and buried after their death. The bones of these animals is of the utmost importance to securing carbon dates for the prominence of Pueblo Bonito. These dates can be found and compared to other items in the room, as well as with the burials found within the great
Chaco Canyon is home a diverse collection of the most fascinating archeological sites from ancient North America, and among these sites is the well-known Pueblo Bonito. This great house is undoubtedly the most famous of all Chaco Canyon great houses, with well over 350 ground rooms, 32 kivas, and thousands of significant artefacts relating to Anasazi culture. The buildings of Pueblo Bonito were occupied over a variety of years, spanning from ca. 850 until the early portion of the 1100s, with some later occupation towards the end of that same century.
Site Location and Setting:
Located in the southeast part of New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park houses many intriguing ruins. Within the canyon, Pueblo Bonito was …show more content…
This item diversity gives anthropologists a huge background to work with, culturally and practically. They are able to record and analyze artefacts found in burials as well as daily life, with surviving perishables that give important insight into the practices of the inhabitants of Pueblo Bonito. With such a diversity of items, it can be difficult to explain the exact function of this great house. During the Hyde expedition, it was believed that Pueblo Bonito was a simple domestic dwelling serving as a multi-family home. However, with further investigations, it seems that the great house was more probably used as a religious and cultural center. It is possible that families lived here, but much of the top levels are caved in and modern excavators must to rely on the small pieces of upper levels left, along with the journals and records from previous …show more content…
This room was possibly used as an aviary, and housed many types of birds. Most notably, a large number of scarlet macaw skeletons were found. This bird is indigenous to Central and South America, and this evidence confirms trade, if not travel, with peoples located in those southerly areas. Possible use for an aviary strongly suggests religious and ritualistic purposes, which hints at the ritualistic space theory behind Pueblo Bonito’s history. In this room alone, 14 macaw skeletons were recovered, among other species which include magpies and one owl. Well documented use of macaw feathers is found among Anasazi culture, and under those circumstances it is no surprise that these birds were kept in captivity and buried after their death. The bones of these animals is of the utmost importance to securing carbon dates for the prominence of Pueblo Bonito. These dates can be found and compared to other items in the room, as well as with the burials found within the great