Culture and Ecology of Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin

Basketmaker III to Pueblo I 10 1centrally located, and one in the south with a greatkiva. The last small site (29Mc261) consists of tworoom blocks and a trash mound with ceramics datingto approximately A.D. 750 to 1000. Across the washwas another area of intensive occupation (29Mc291)dating from approximately A.D. 700 or 880 throughA.D. 1130.In summary, the three surveys identified anumber of Basketmaker III and Pueblo I habitationsites (Figures 4.2 and 4.3). Due to alluviation of thefloor of the Chaco Wash, however, it was doubted thatall sites were identified. Although several clusters ofpithouse sites dated to both periods, there is a shift incluster locations between periods. The two largestBasketmaker III clusters, both with great kivas, appearon mesa tops (Wills and Windes 1989). Other pitstructure clusters were also located on the southeastside of West Mesa, the southwest side of West Mesa,near Rafael's Rincon, and in the vicinity of PuebloBonito and Chetro Ket!. By Pueblo I, the two majorclusters declined in size; three major clusters (Fajada,South Gap near Pueblo Bonito, and Padilla Well) wereno longer on mesa tops but rather were in valleybottoms, as is the cluster in the Kin Bineola valley.Pueblo I great kivas were identified at 29SJ457 on aridge southeast of Padilla Well and 29SJ352 (south ofPadilla Well) (Truell 1986:238), as well as the KinBineola drainage. Recent surveys by Windes (Leksonet al. 2006; Windes 2oo6a) document the presence ofa Pueblo I cluster (A.D. 775 to 850), which includesat least one great kiva, along the south fork of FajadaWash. These data support Judge's observations ofPueblo I populations located near tributary washes thatwould provide a source of water for agriculture.ExcavationsMost of the excavated small house sites havecomponents assigned to more than one period. Sitesthat provide information about the Basketmaker IIIand Pueblo I periods include 29SJ423 (Windes 1975);29SJ299 (Loose 1979b; Windes 1976a); 29SJ628(Truell 1976); 29SJ1659 (Shabik'eshchee Village)(Hayes 1975; Roberts 1929; Wills and Windes 1989);29SJ721 (Windes 1976b); and 29SJ724 (Windes1976c). Three others (29SJ629 [Windes 1993];29SJ1360 [McKenna 1984]; and 29SJ627 [Truell1992]) have Pueblo I components, but major occupationwas during the Pueblo II period. A summary ofthe architecture and stratigraphy for each site wasprepared (Table A.5). A detailed analysis of the siteswithin the Chaco region is under way (Windes 2006a).Major contributions to the database for the periodsinclude information from the following sites:29SJ1659 (Shabi k'eshchee Village). Atabout the same time that Hayes (1975) was excavatingPithouse Y (which proved to be comparable toPithouse C at 29SJ628) and obtaining tree-ring datesin the A.D. 500s for this structure, Robinson et al.(1974:39) re-evaluated prior tree-ring dates fromShabik'eshchee Village to place them in the A.D.5OOs. This site, then, was contemporary with otherBasketmaker III settlements in the San Juan Basin.Although these new insights did not improve theinformation available from earlier excavations byRoberts (1929), Wills and Windes (1989) reviewed thenew survey data (Figure 4.4), which added approximately49 structures on the north side of a smalldepression (including two that Roberts had assigned toa separate site) to this largest Basketmaker III settlementin Chaco Canyon. Re-evaluation of the infonnationfrom at least 163 Basketmaker III sites in thecanyon led to an analysis of proposals for social organizationfor this period (Wills and Windes 1989; seediscussion below). As noted above, recognition oftwo sites (both with great kivas) and numerous otherBasketmaker III sites in their respective areasconfirmed major settlements on the two mesas at theeast and west ends of the canyon (Hayes 1981).29SJ423. This is one of approximately 20Basketmaker III sites located on West Mesa near theconfluence of the Chaco and Escavada washes. It isjust above 29SJ424 and 29SJ425, which are located ona lower leeward bench; McKenna (1986) suggestedthat these three site designations may represent oneliving area. The extensive number of pithouse sites onthis mesa and the presence of a great kiva at 29SJ423suggest that this large settlement may be comparableto Shabik'eshchee Village on Chacra Mesa (Wills andWindes 1989). Fieldwork under the direction ofWindes (1975) included the excavation of three ofprobably seven pithouses; three of at least 40 cists; agreat kiva that exhibited three construction episodes,each of which was destroyed by fire; and a Pueblo IIIshrine (Figure 4.5). Although data from the pithouseswere minimal, the three great kiva construction phasesall fell within the A.D. 500s (around A.D. 520 to