Ancestral Puebloans

The Ancestral Puebloans are an ancient Native American culture that spans the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.

The Ancestral Puebloans are believed to have developed, at least in part, from the Oshara Tradition, who developed from the Picosa culture.

They live  in a range of structures that includes small family pit houses, larger structures to house clans, grand pueblos, and cliff-sited dwellings for defense.

The Ancestral Puebloans possess a complex network that stretches across the Colorado Plateau linking hundreds of communities and population centers.

They hold a distinct knowledge of celestial sciences that find form in their architecture.

The kiva, a congregational space that is used chiefly for ceremonial purposes,is an integral part of this ancient people's community structure.

In contemporary times, the people and their archaeological culture are referred to as Anasazi for historical purposes.

The Navajo, who are not their descendants, call them by this term.

Reflecting historic traditions, the term is used to mean "ancient enemies".

Contemporary Puebloans do not want this term to be used.

Archaeologists continue to debate when this distinct culture emerged.

The current agreement, based on terminology defined by the Pecos Classification, suggests their emergence around the twelfth century BCE, during the archaeologically designated Early Basketmaker II Era.

Beginning with the earliest explorations and excavations, researchers will identifiy Ancestral Puebloans as the forerunners of contemporary Pueblo peoples.

Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in the United States are credited to the Pueblos: Mesa Verde National Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Taos Pueblo.

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