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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2003

Archaeologists presented results of their new research into Pueblo communities at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The research confirms oral histories of frequent migration of communities in the Southwest. A study of tree rings and artifacts showed that the average stay was limited to 10 years during the 600s A.D. but increased to 20 years by the 1000s and then 50 years by about 1200 A.D.

The research said that drought contributed to the moves but that Pueblo ancestors often stuck it out longer than expected. The archaeologists also said the communities invented new farming techniques to deal with the problem.

Get the Story:
New meaning seen in tribes' nomadic pasts (The Denver Post 2/18)
[Mis]Understanding Village Abandonments in the Prehistoric North American Southwest (AAAS 2/17)

Relevant Links:
American Association for the Advancement of Science - http://www.aaas.org