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Ritual and Mound Formation during the Bonito Phase in Chaco Canyon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

W. H. Wills
W. H. Wills*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
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Abstract

Recent socioeconomic models for the Bonito phase (ca. A.D. 850–1150) in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, rely heavily on the inference that ritual activity was a causal factor in the design and construction of architectural features. A particular example of this inferential argument concerns earthen mounds, which are widely viewed as evidence for ceremonial gatherings and the intentional creation of sacred architecture. However, a critical evaluation of the physical attributes of Chacoan mounds indicates that these features do not offer clear evidence for either periodic ceremonies or intentional design.

Résumé

Résumé

Los modelos socioeconómicos recientespara la fase Bonito (A.C. 850 a 1150) en Cañon del Chaco, Nuevo México, dependen de la inferencia de que el ritual era un factor causal en la planeación y construction de arquitectura. Un ejemplo de este argumente inferential se refiere a los monticules de tierra, los cuales están interpretados como la evidencia de reuniones ceremoniales y la creation intentional de arquitectura sagrada. Sin embargo, una evaluation critica de los detalles fisicos de los monticules de Chaco indica que estos rasgos no ofrecen evidencia muy clara de ceremonias periódicas ni diseño intentional de las actividades rituales.

Type
Articles
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 66 , Issue 3 , July 2001 , pp. 433 - 451
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2001

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