One of the things we learned during our trips to the American Southwest that most people don't seem to realize is that before the Native Americans came the Puebloans. Actually many people seem to think that civilization started with Amerigo Vespucci or Christopher Columbus and that everyone else were unclothed savages before then.

While the Puebloan indians lived on this continent for 100's of years, their cultural history has not been passed on due to their lack of a common language or written history.

Chaco Canyon was one of their cultural centers from AD850 - AD1250. After this time the people migrated to areas such as Mesa Verde, Canyon de Chelly and beyond. These areas were subsequently habited by the Navajo in the 1400's. They lived there until the 1540's when the Spanish came in search of Gold. The Spanish, being Roman Catholic, were intolerant of the Navajo and Puebloan religion and went about to convert the people. They also enslaved the people and introduced to the Natives Small Pox. Following a century of subjugation by the Spanish, the Puebloans Revolted in 1680. A time of self rule persisted until the leader of the revolt Pope ( Pronounced Po-PAY) died. At this time the Spanish again reconquered New Mexico.

New Mexico became a part of Mexico, independent of Spain in 1821. In 1850 New Mexico became a Territory of the United States. At this time the Americans began rounding up the Native Americans and sending them to Fort Sumner, NM. The Navajo did return to this area and were involved with subsequent archeological digs since the 1890's when excavation of Chaco Canyon began.

The loss of Puebloan culture can be attributed to their lack of a common or written language. The constant war and colonization resulted in the Puebloans integrating with the Navajo communities. Despite their turbulent recent past 23 puebloan tribes persist in New Mexico in and around Santa Fe.

Pueblo Bonito - constructed between 850-1150 AD

The construction of Chaco Canyon can be dated by the type of Masonry used to build the walls. The following picture shows three walls, the furthest is the oldest with more plaster then brick - Type I masonry built in the 800's, the next wall is typical of Type II masonry with large bricks interspersed with smaller pieces. Type III is characterized by similar sized bricks with less morter and tapered walls to allow floors to be built up.

You can see the Vigas (1o Supports) and Latillas ( 2o supports) poking out of the walls of adjacent rooms. The Vigas are wood ceiling supports made up of Pondorosa Pine or Juniper Trees. The Puebloans who built these structures carried the trees 60 miles since there is no evidence of large forests in this area. >200,000 Trees are have been used for Vigas in Chaco Canyon. This picture shows evidence of a three story structure. Tree ring dating has been used to date construction of Pueblos in the Four Corners Area.

The Canyon wall can be seen from some windows of Pueblo Bonito.