Ancestral Puebloans

Quick Facts: Who was Ancestral Puebloans?

Subject:

Ancestral Puebloans

Known for:

Ancient Native American culture of the Four Corners region, known for complex architecture and deep celestial knowledge.

Died:

Living / None

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as Ancestral Pueblo peoples or the Basketmaker-Pueblo culture, were an ancient Native American culture of Pueblo peoples spanning the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado. They are believed to have developed, at least in part, from the Oshara tradition, which developed from the Picosa culture. The Ancestral Puebloans lived in a range of structures that included small family pit houses, larger structures to house clans, grand pueblos, and cliff-sited dwellings for defense. They had a complex network linking hundreds of communities and population centers across the Colorado Plateau. They held a distinct knowledge of celestial sciences that found form in their architecture.

Career & Major Achievements

The kiva, a congregational space that was used mostly for ceremonies, was an integral part of the community structure. 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 12th century BCE, during the archaeologically designated Early Basketmaker II Era. Beginning with the earliest explorations and excavations, researchers identified 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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Pueblo, which means "village" and "people" in Spanish, was a term originating with the Spanish explorers who used it to refer to the people's particular style of dwelling. Hopi people use the term Hisatsinom, meaning "ancient people", to describe the Ancestral Puebloans. The Navajo people, who now reside in parts of former Pueblo territory, referred to the ancient people as Anaasází in their Diné language, an exonym meaning "ancestors of our enemies", referring to their competition with the Pueblo peoples. The Navajo now use the term in the sense of referring to "ancient people" or "primitive ones", i.e., savages or barbarians, whereas others ascribe the meaning of Anasazi to "the older ones who are different from our people"; (lit. Ana = "different from us" + asaza = "the old ones").

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ancestral Puebloans

True or False: “The term 'Anasazi' was originally used by the Navajo people to refer to all Ancestral Puebloans equally.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The word 'Anasazi' is a specific exonym that has been historically misused; it does not accurately represent the entire breadth of the culture.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ancestral Puebloans