Lost City: Chaco Canyon and the Chaco Phenomenon

 

In a series of Lost Cities: here: https://www.thetravel.com/lost-cities-around-the-world-besides-atlantis/

 

Far out in the deserts of New Mexico lies a site once lost to time: Chaco Canyon. Between 850 CE and 1250, this town was once full of astronomers, artists, jewelry makers, and traders.  Chaco Canyon was a place of rich culture, astronomy, science, and art.  Their trade networks may have gone as far as Mesoamerica, evidenced by the cacao that has been found at the site.

Sadly, the people of Chaco Canyon faced one threat they couldn't have predicted: climate change.  In 1250 CE, a horrific drought hit, causing the people of the area to migrate away.

It wasn't until 1823 that the site was rediscovered.  Since then, it has received a lot of attention from archaeologists and researchers who are determined to uncover the secrets Chaco Canyon has to offer.

Culture:	Ancestral Puebloan
Years active:	850 CE - 1250
Has it been found?	Yes

 

Remember these are theories, not verified by tribes in this area... We are ANCIENT... Trace 

BBC: STORY: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220605-ozette-the-us-lost-2000-year-old-village

Ozette Indian Village 

In 1970, a brutal Pacific storm uncovered part of an abandoned coastal Makah village called Ozette located 15 miles south of Cape Flattery. Part of the village had been buried by a mudslide that was possibly triggered by a dramatic seismic event around 1700, almost a century before the first European contact.  Indeed, recent research argues that ancestors of the Makah – or related Wakashan speaking people – have been present in the area for at least 4,000 years, which, if proven, would change our understanding of prehistory in the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. 

The discovery of this lost Makah village in 1970 has led to 55,000 artifacts being uncovered

In 1970, archaeologists stumbled upon one of the most impressive Native American archaeological discoveries that rewrote history.  This was the finding of Ozette Indian Village.  Located in Washington state near Neah Bay, this Makah village was buried by a mudslide in 1500 CE.  For almost 500 years, the site laid dormant. However, tidal erosion near the site revealed wooden artifacts that caught the attention of archaeologists.

Since then, more than 55,000 artifacts from the site have been recovered, including baskets, games, boxes, and weapons.  Plus, six longhouses have been identified! This site has not only changed our understanding of Pre-Contact Makah culture, but also has changed our understanding of archaeology in the Americas as a whole.

Culture:	Makah
Years active:	Before 1500 CE
Has it been found?	Yes