Chaco Anasazi Facts

Where Did the Anasazi Go?

The Anasazi/Scarlet Macaw Clan entered and founded Pueblo Bonita in 829 C.E. in the central San Juan basin thriving there for approximately 300 years. Through intermarriage with previously existing indigenous groups they migrated to the Wupatki, Mesa Verde and northern San Juan region. They remained here for approximately 200 years. At this point, there was a mini Diaspora to Hopi and toward the northern Rio Grande region on the Pajarito Plateau. The primary Scarlet Macaw Clan’s next migration was to the Mogollon region where they remained for approximately 100 years. In approximately 1375/1400 C.E. evidence provides that they went into Diaspora to the Rio Grand and Paquimé regions. The first migration path was from Chaco to the north and west and the second from Wupatki and the Mesa Verde area toward the south and east. In each case the primary reason for migration was caused by anemia and they moved to regions with a more bountiful supply of wildlife that supplied the critical and necessary dietary iron. This migration path is demonstrated dramatically by the construction of large, well made masonry “great houses,” ceramic design, three-ring chronology and Scarlet Macaw remains as the four primary markers. There are two distinct migrations each with three individual phases. The first was the Scarlet Macaw Clan: Chaco-Wupatki-Mogollon. The northern migration is detailed on the following page. Interestingly, the last areas of settlement were near wildlife areas along the Mogollon Rim and near Bison hunting
grounds adjacent to the Rio Grande on the Great Plains.

Anasazi Migration Time

829 C.E. > 900 >	1080 >	1150 >
Anasazi Culture 829 C.E.
First Large Building Phase >	< Second Large Building Phase >	< Second Large Building Phase >
Chacoan – Bonito Phase: 829 -1150 Pueblo Bonita 829 – 1129* Una Vida 861 - 1093 Penasco Blanco 898 - 1120 Newcomb: 900 – 1140 Skunk Springs 900 – 1140 Guadalupe 918 – 971 Andrews 927 – 1109 Hungo Pavi 942 - 1077 Ft Wingate 948 – 1036 Chetro Ketl 989 - 1117 San Mateo 991 – 1107 Pueblo Alto 1021-1132 P. del Arroyo 1029 – 1109* Casamero 1033 – 1123 V. of G. Kivas 1039 Wallace 1045 – 1108 Haystack 1050 – 1108 Aztec Chaco 1051 – 1135* Casa Rinconada 1054 Kin Kletso 1059 – 1178* Casa Chiquita M.V. 1063 – 1064 *Salmon Chaco 1068 – 1116++ Chimney Rock 1078 Kin Ya-a 1087 – 1106 Tsin Kletzin 1111 – 1113 Mimbres** Galaz 858 – 893	Wupatki Phase: 1080 – 1277 Sunset Crater Eruption 1064 Ridge Ruin 1080 – 1173* Cameron Creek 1100 – 1150* Wupatki 1106 – 1215* Tonto Cliff Dwelling 1109 Montezuma Castle 1125 – 1200* Nalakihu 1183* Tusayan 1185 – 1205	San Juan –Mesa Verde: 1041-1300 Hansen 1041 - 1107 Goodman Point 1101-1269 Yellow Jacket 1101-1254 Lowry Pueblo 1086 – 1170 Far View M. V. 1100 – 1300 Cowboy Wash 1100-1150+ Edge of the Cedars 1109 – 1215 Bluff 1111-1160 Ida Jean 1124 Escalante 1124 – 1138 Drought 1130-1180# Seed Jar Site 1150+ Inscription House 1160-1263 Cliff Palace M.V. 1190 – 1279 Sand Canyon 1200 – 1277 Yucca House 1229-1263 Salmon M.V. 1244-1263 Aztec M.V. 1268-1270 Macaw Importation Stopped 1200 - 1275 Kayenta Anasazi Canyon de Chelly 1060-1275 Coombs Site 1129 – 1169+ Batakin 1246-1286 Antelope House 1275-1286

Why did the Anasazi abandon areas? Anemia/Dietary iron deficiency:
Something smaller than a grain of sand KO’ed the Anasazi

These percentages are all that is required to prompt migration. These rates of anemia are sufficient to cause many miscarriages, mother and infant deaths and mental/physical birth defects. While it is not possible to predict the exact effects of the severe iron deficiency it indicates extreme stress on human reproduction and healthy maturation. Deforestation, crop fertility and many other factors have been suggested but anemia is a required single factor causation.

This dietary deficiency cannot be generalized as “bad diet” but rather is a specific lack of one vital mineral with characteristics that have easily observable symptoms. The Anasazi and others perhaps, could not have known the specific “scientific cause.” I propose however, that they knew what the cure was which is red blood/red meat.

The Mayan/Aztecan fascination with blood including human sacrifice and cannibalism can be recognized as a recognition of the “cure for anemia.” Among the Anasazi there is a specific time period around CE 1150 where cannibalism took place in numerous areas and this is perhaps a reaction to stress caused by anemia which lead in that time period to migration.

The migration of the Scarlet Macaw Clan is well documented on the proceeding page. The Chaco-Mesa Verde-Rio Grande migration does not have a specific and clear marker such as Scarlet Macaws, but, there is an observable dateline and ceramics tradition that can indicate the migration path. (Lexon and LeBlanc, a personal interview October 2007.)

1241 >	1300 >	1375 C.E. >
>	1300 C.E. >	End Anasazi / Begin Ancestral Pueblos
< Third Large Building Phase >	< Third Large Building Phase >	< Third Large Building Phase >
Mogollon – Diaspora Phase 1280-1696 Kinishba 1241 – 1366* Pollock 1243 – 1303* Point of Pines 1250 – 1400* Grasshopper 1263 – 1375* Gila Cliff 1264 – 1287 Chavez Pass 1264-1371 Canyon Creek Ruin 1270-1348 Turkey Creek 1275 – 1300* El Marrow 1275 – 1350 Kitsina Religion 1275-1300 Great Drought 1276-1299# Devil’s Chasm 1310-1330 Bridge Time/Culture Houck 931-1115* Kiet Siel 950-1286*	Rio Grande: 1241 - 1450 Hopi Homolovi 1280-1380* Kokopnyama 1272-1400 Kawaiakuh 1284-1474 Awatovi 1376-1696 Zuni Heshotauthla 1286	Diaspora / Rio Grande / Paquimé 1300-1400 Paquimé 1250 – 1425/50* Picuris Pueblo 1300-1700* Joice Well 1308 Pecos Pueblo 1300-1600* Tyuonyi 1386-1512 Gran Quivira 1416-1607* Garcia Site 1400-1600*

*Scarlet Macaw Sites 829-1450
+ Cannibalism Sites 1150
++ Major Warfare Site 1116
# Major Droughts 1130-1180 & 1276-1299
Robinson, William J. and Cameron, Catherine M.A Directory of Three-Ring Dated Prehistoric Sites in the American Southwest,
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, November 1991
Jeff Dean/Ron Towner 621-2320 / 621-6465