Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 16:36:13 -0600
From: Lisa Rogers <EQWQ.LROGERS-AT-state.ut.us>
Subject: crisis, social change, Chaco canyon


In reply to Adam,
I don't know enough in this area to render a specific opinion on the
crises of Rome and such.  I don't know on what basis it may be be
"valid to talk about the rise of feudalism out of the crisis of
slavery", for instance.

I can't take the defeat of the Incas as evidence that they must have
been in "social crisis" just around the time that the Spanish
arrived.  Even if they were busy fighting among themselves, that is
"normal" for many societies.

I wonder if one is already convinced that social change results from
crisis, then it could be easy to always find some indication of
"crisis".


Adam:  I forget what they were called, but I visited an old
archeological site somewhere near the New Mexico / Arizona / Colorado
border, where a  whole civilisation does seem to have literally
dissappeared for no  apparent reason - do you know what I'm talking
about - it's quite near neck of the woods, sort of.

Lisa:  You are probably talking about Chaco Canyon.  About two years
ago I heard some visiting archaeologist talk about the latest work
being done on that area.  It's not such a mystery any more.  At one
time the mystery was supposed to be why the city was ever built there
in the first place.  

Now it's clear that before around 1200 years ago, the plateau was
covered with a dense ponderosa pine forest, full of wildlife as the
remaining forests are today.  Ponderosas specialize in semi-arid high
altitude areas, have very long needles and get quite huge.  Their
trunks are part of the structure of the buildings at Chaco.  

What is now a tree-less desert was then productive agricultural land.
 Combined with an ever-decreasing amount of foraging, this fed a
thriving city.  The river that cuts through that plateau now was not
cut so deep then, and they irrigated by simple gravity flow.  Many
specialized artists and other producers lived in 4-5 storey
buildings, of wood post, stone and adobe combination structure.

The circle of deforestation grew around the city, not only because of
agriculture, but also for firewood.  Well constructed road systems
carried foot traffic, travellers, traders, and especially, probably,
firewood sellers, straight out for many miles from the city.  Erosion
increased, the water table fell, the river cut deeper, firewood got
farther away - more expensive?  

As all necessities of life, food, fuel and water became more scarce
and difficult to get, at some point, people went away.  The details
of the depopulation I haven't heard if there is any indication.  Were
there riots, stealing, murder?  Or did people just start picking up
and moving out?

Lisa


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