Significance of Chaco Canyon Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Significance of Chaco Canyon - Research Paper Example archaeological explorations began at Chaco Canyon at the end of the 19th century by the archeologists Richard Wetherill and George H. Pepper. Since then, increasing interest in the invest led to the undertaking of several excavation projects in both small and large sites in the region under the sponsorship of national organizations like the the Statesn Museum of Natural History, the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution. Further, the impending southwestern archeologists who have conducted projects at Chaco Canyon include Stephen Lekson, Jim Judge, Neil Judd, Gwinn Vivian, and Thomas Windes (Fagan, 2005). Chaco Canyon was a multi-site community dating from A.D. 900-1150, and believed to originate from earlier times. The archeology of the canyon has been interpreted in different ways by heterogeneous archeologists and investigators. Taking into consideration the limited arable land in the region of Chaco Can yon, its population size and the ensuant implications on Puebloan self-sufficiency have been debated. According to Nelson (1995), arguments related to local socio-political organization and the extent to which Chaco Canyon settlements play a dominant role in the region are based on the archeology of the antiquated historic site. Thesis Statement The purpose of this paper is to investigate the significance of Chaco Canyon, the ancient archeological site which had dominated the region at that time. The Significance of Chaco Canyon Chaco Canyon is a circular, saucer-shaped depression approximately one and only(a) hundred miles in diameter. The canyons relatively flat landscape inclines at the mountains bordering the region on the north, east, and west, while the south did not have a well-defined edge to the San Juan Basin and has a serial of uplifts. The San Juan River and its tributaries carry runoff from the basin to the Colorado River to the west (Lister & Lister, 1981, p.179). Chaco Canyon Unique Features Chaco Canyon is one of Americas richest archeological zones. The region is subjected to great extremes in temperature, it is devoid of trees and year-round running water, and the canyons sandy bases are cut deep by an arroyo or rift. At present, the terraces above have saltbrush, snakeweed, pungent pear cactus, and stunted grasses. In this forlorn region the canyons have walls of treacherously spalling tawny sandstone (Lister & Lister, 1981, p.3) apparently untempting to farmers from settling down in the canyon. This is reiterated by Roberts (1929), who states that the canyon itself is quite narrow, less than a mile ample at its widest point. Its walls are of red sandstone, and the mesa tops above are almost barren, with a few stunted cedar and pinon trees, sagebrush, and scanty grass but with pines smaller trees near its upper end. In all directions, the region is marked by shifting sand, great dry washes, deep arroyos, and a overleap of vegetation ( Roberts, 1929, p.9). Remarkably, this was the chosen site for the early Puebloan people, as indicated by the eleven large pueblo ruins and the countless numbers racket of small houses spread over the canyon. Although today there is no settlement in Chaco Canyon, Navajo herdsmen eke out a bare living in the perimeters of the area.