Ch.6: Chaco and Urban Genesis

URBAN GENESIS AT CHACO: Case Study of the Origin of Civilizations. Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6

6.1 Chaco and the Urban Genesis Theory

How do we explain the Chaco Phenomenon? Based on the remaining evidence, the Chaco Culture quickly became far more complex and extensive than its immediate predecessor; it was also more complex than the Historic Pueblo cultures that have existed in recent centuries. But without written records, what can we understand about this vanished culture? It is time to return to the cross-cultural model of urban genesis reviewed in the first chapter.

Was the Chaco Phenomenon an instance of primary urban genesis? If so, the material culture following urbanization should resemble that which preceded urbanization. Indeed, Chacoan 'kivas' certainly resemble earlier pit-houses, and room-blocks still look similar, albeit much larger. Furthermore, Chacoan design does not change to become more similar to Mesoamerican or Moundbuilding designs. Changes in Chacoan design do not appear to be induced by the influence of an outside culture.

Secondly, was the Chaco Phenomenon an instance of urban genesis? Looking back at Childe's ten diagnostic features: 1)

In addition, the emplacement of great-houses in outlying communities during the eleventh century indicates that the surrounding region was being converted into the resource-producing periphery of the Chacoan urban system, with formerly autonomous communities being reformed into rural outliers of the Center. At the same time, the progressive decrease in size of most domestic structures in the canyon is a strong indicator of social stratification, a crucial component in the process of the emergence of a social and political elite.