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Where did the great-house timbers come from?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of What was Chaco Canyon?·3 answers·0·0 following
Answered: Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the…Passed its tests and review.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the… leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

The beams are the best-dated imports at Chaco. Their sources show how far the builders reached and whom they worked with⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 3

Evidence: 3 for
Most likely
Evidence: 1 against
Disputed
None of these.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: none yet
Disputed

History

  1. English et al. puts forward: most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the…
  2. English et al.: spruce and fir beams match the Chuska and San Mateo (Mount Taylor) ranges by strontium, not the San Pedro…For: Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the…
  3. Reynolds et al.: ponderosa pine, the commonest beam, has also been sourced by strontium.Against: Most timber came from closer sources, and long-distance hauling was exceptional.
  4. Guiterman et al. puts forward: most timber came from closer sources, and long-distance hauling was exceptional.
  5. Guiterman et al.: ring-width matching of 170 timbers puts 70 percent in the Chuska and Zuni ranges, with a shift from the Zunis…For: Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the…
  6. Guiterman et al.: tree rings and strontium agree on a Chuska origin for the Pueblo Bonito plaza tree.For: Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the…
  7. Asked on this site
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