By Larry E. Heck
photographer: Larry E. Heck
One of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the American Southwest involves the tribes known as the Anasazi. The fact is simply that archaeologists and historians agree to disagree on just about everything involving them. Even the translation of their name is highly debated. The most commonly used English version is "Ancient Ones," however many others insist it should be "Ancient Enemy."
The biggest mystery is, "Where did they go and why did they vanish?"
Archaeologists mostly agree the Anasazi occupied the Southwest between the years of 200 AD and 1300 AD. They gave up their nomadic lifestyle for one with roots. Corn, beans, and squash were among favorite foods grown on small farms. They were very good at making baskets and pottery. As they progressed, the idea of painting the pottery became popular. To get through the long winter months, they stored grain and other foods. The Anasazi had many talents.
With the passing of time came more elaborate homes with rooms for more members. Eventually, they developed huge cities which are now protected as national parks such as Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. The construction was so well-designed that many of the structures they built are still standing after more than 1,000 years in a hostile environment.
Aerial photographs first taken in the 1970s revealed a network of roads branching out from the major cities in all directions. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of canals and dams used to manage water. The engineering accomplishments of the Anasazi during the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries were far above anything that followed in the centuries after they vanished.