# Where did the great-house timbers come from? · Great houses of Chaco Canyon > 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… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTTBC2PDT/where-did-the-great-house-timbers-come-from Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:03+00:00 --- **0** # Where did the great-house timbers come from? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What was Chaco Canyon?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSC476X2/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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3D01V6X/strontium-isotopes-reveal-distant-sources-of-architectural)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3WM6189/eleventh-century-shift-in-timber-procurement-areas-for-the). ## Answers 3 [**Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV5TJ0KRJ/most-construction-timber-came-from-the-chuska-zuni-and-mount) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**Most timber came from closer sources, and long-distance hauling was exceptional.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV6ST73W2/most-timber-came-from-closer-sources-and-long-distance) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV79E1CQJ/none-of-these) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed ## History 1. 2001[English et al. puts forward: most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3D01V6X/strontium-isotopes-reveal-distant-sources-of-architectural) 1. 2001[English et al.: spruce and fir beams match the Chuska and San Mateo (Mount Taylor) ranges by strontium, not the San Pedro…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3D01V6X/strontium-isotopes-reveal-distant-sources-of-architectural)For: Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the… 1. 2005[Reynolds et al.: ponderosa pine, the commonest beam, has also been sourced by strontium.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3MT0A5W/87sr-86sr-sourcing-of-ponderosa-pine-used-in-anasazi-great)Against: Most timber came from closer sources, and long-distance hauling was exceptional. 1. 2016[Guiterman et al. puts forward: most timber came from closer sources, and long-distance hauling was exceptional.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3WM6189/eleventh-century-shift-in-timber-procurement-areas-for-the) 1. 2016[Guiterman et al.: ring-width matching of 170 timbers puts 70 percent in the Chuska and Zuni ranges, with a shift from the Zunis…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3WM6189/eleventh-century-shift-in-timber-procurement-areas-for-the)For: Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the… 1. 2020[Guiterman et al.: tree rings and strontium agree on a Chuska origin for the Pueblo Bonito plaza tree.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT44E5J68/convergence-of-evidence-supports-a-chuska-mountains-origin)For: Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTTBC2PDT/where-did-the-great-house-timbers-come-from%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTTBC2PDT/where-did-the-great-house-timbers-come-from%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTTBC2PDT/where-did-the-great-house-timbers-come-from%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTTBC2PDT/where-did-the-great-house-timbers-come-from%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTTBC2PDT/where-did-the-great-house-timbers-come-from%23add-source) Where it fits Great houses of Chaco Canyon [**What was Chaco Canyon?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSC476X2/what-was-chaco-canyon)Key question · most likely the seat of a hereditary elite whose house at Pueblo Bonito controlled ritual and long-distance exchange **Where did the great-house timbers come from?** You're here · Most construction timber came from the Chuska, Zuni and Mount Taylor ranges, 75 km or more away, with the… [ Ask a question under this one ]