ancientart:The Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA.The Pueblo peoples occupied a
ancientart:The Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA.The Pueblo peoples occupied a large region of the south-western United States for over 2,000 years. Between 850 and 1250 Chaco Canyon was the major centre of ancestral Pueblo culture, which was used for ceremonials, political activity, and trade.Chaco is an example of a prehistoric or protohistoric culture that is remarkable for its monumental public and ceremonial buildings and its distinctive architecture. The zenith was from around 1020 to 1110. The highly organized reconstruction of old living places, such as Pueblo Bonito and Penasco Blanco, demonstrates their skill in the use of building techniques in a difficult environment. The Chaco people combined pre-planned architectural designs, astronomical alignments, geometry, landscaping and engineering to create an ancient urban centre of spectacular public architecture. Chaco was connected to over 150 communities throughout the region by engineered roads and a shared vision of the world.At the same time it illustrates the increasing complexity of the Chaco social structure: circular kivas having an essentially religious role appeared on a regular basis in the middle of an increasingly differentiated unitary dwelling. More and more roads were built and the signs of extensive trading became more manifest (imports of ceramics and lithic materials, including turquoise). This phase was followed by a period of rapid decadence about 1110. From 1140 to 1200, the Chaco population died out and the pueblos were abandoned. (unesco)Photos courtesy & taken by Timothy Brown. -- source link
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