Southwest Archaeology Basics

The American Southwest is renowned for the quantity and richness of its archaeological resources. Of all the ancient cultures of the Southwest, perhaps the most widely known is that of the ancestral Pueblo people (also called the Anasazi) of the Mesa Verde region.

The Mesa Verde region is located in an area popularly known as the Four Corners, so-called because it is where the four states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. The area has one of the densest concentrations of well-preserved archaeological sites in the world and for the last two decades has been the focus of Crow Canyon’s research.

In this section, we invite you to become acquainted with the archaeology of the Southwest, with an emphasis on the Pueblo culture of the Mesa Verde region:

Peoples of the Mesa Verde Region
This illustrated chronology covers more than 11,000 years of American Indian history in the Mesa Verde region, with a focus on the ancestral Pueblo people (the Anasazi).

General-Interest Reading List
This bibliography is for older students and adults who want to learn more about the histories and cultures of the native peoples of the Southwest.

Archaeological Ethics and Law
Archaeological resources are protected by federal laws, and archaeological research is guided by a set of professional ethics. This discussion of ethics and law introduces basic principles and provides links to Web sites with more-detailed information.

Links
Let these links be your jumping-off point for further exploration.