Book

The outlier survey: a regional view of settlement in the San Juan basin

Division of Cultural Research, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior • Albuquerque, N.M. • Published In 1983 • Pages: xix, 437

By: Powers, Robert P., Gillespie, William B., Lekson, Stephen H..

Abstract

Powers et al. conducted detailed surveys around three Chacoan outliers: Bis sa'ani, Peach Springs, and Pierre's. The focus of their investigation was to determine the relationship between the Chacoan outliers and the great house sites in Chaco Canyon. At the three surveyed sites they recorded the physical environment including the soils and how suitable they were for agriculture, the settlement pattern, ceramics, and lithics. Temporal placement was based on ceramic types. Details of the Chacoan structures such as size, room height, and masonry style were also recorded. The data from the outlier surveys is used to present a regional synthesis: 'examining outlier chronology, community settlement patterns, regional settlement patterns, and site organization, environment and resource variability, outlier site type variability and morphology, and outlier lithics and ceramics from a regional perspective. To the degree possible, change over time is documented or postulated, thereby presenting an evolutionary view of the outlier phenomenon.' (page 19). Powers et al. used communities to examine the Chacoan regional system and found that substantial communities with great kivas arise around AD 500 and by AD 900 these communities have great houses or Chacoan structures. Powers et al. propose a site hierarchy for the system with Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl at the apex.

HRAF PubDate

2012

Region

North America

Sub Region

Southwest and Basin

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Archaeologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Sarah Berry; 2011

Field Date

1976

Coverage Date

1500-700 BP (AD 500-1300)

Coverage Place

San Juan Basin; Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah; United States

Notes

by Robert P. Powers, William B. Gillespie, Stephen H. Lekson

Includes bibliographical references (p. 393-416)and index

United States. National Park Service. Division of Cultural Research

LCCN

83601356

LCSH

Chaco culture

Chaco culture--New Mexico--Chaco Canyon

Chaco culture--San Juan River Watershed (Colo.-Utah) Land settlement patterns, Prehistoric--San Juan River Watershed (Colo.-Utah) Chaco Canyon (N.M.)--Antiquities

New Mexico--Antiquities

San Juan River Watershed (Colo.-Utah)--Antiquities