Chacoan Roadways in the Goodman Point Region in Southwest Colorado

Abstract

The interplay of practical and symbolic function is not often studied within the context of prehistoric roads or trails, and such an approach within the Southwest could provide researchers with an analogue for future comparative studies. Roads associated with Casa Negra, Casa Shields, and Goodman Point pueblos, located within Hovenweep National Monument in Southwest Colorado, offer the opportunity for this type of research. An initial hypothesis is that the associated road and trail network was intended to facilitate movement between these pueblos and neighboring habitation sites and symbolized group identity. To establish a functional interpretation of the roads, GIS analysis put the roads and trials in the context of the greater landscape and their associated features. Spatial analysis was also supplemented with ground survey to observe the morphology of the roads and trails as well as to identify additional paths. To establish a symbolic function, habitation, and ritual sites that can be related to the road based upon a spatial analysis have been analyzed along with a comparative study with Chaco Canyon. The conclusions that this research establishes provides context for future research concerning function and symbolism within the lived landscape.

La interacción de funciones simbólicas y prácticas a menudo no se estudia en el contexto de la prehistoria caminos o senderos y ese enfoque en el suroeste podría proporcionar a los investigadores un análogo para futuros estudios comparativos. Roads asociadas con la Casa Negra, Casa escudos, y Goodman punto pueblos, ubicado dentro del Monumento Nacional Hovenweep en el suroeste de Colorado, ofrecen la oportunidad para este tipo de investigación. Una primera hipótesis es que la red de senderos y carreteras asociadas estaba destinado a facilitar la circulación entre estos pueblos y sitios habitacionales vecinos y simboliza la identidad del grupo. Para establecer una interpretación funcional de las carreteras, análisis SIG poner las carreteras y los juicios en el contexto del gran paisaje y sus características asociadas. El análisis espacial se complementó con mediciones en tierra para observar la morfología de los caminos y senderos, así como para identificar rutas adicionales. Para establecer una función simbólica, las viviendas y los rituales de los sitios que puedan estar relacionados con la carretera sobre la base de un análisis espacial han sido analizados junto con un estudio comparativo con el Cañón del Chaco. Las conclusiones de esta investigación establece proporciona el contexto para futuras investigaciones sobre la función y el simbolismo dentro del paisaje vivido.

KEYWORDS:

• Chaco Canyon
• Roads
• Symbolism
• Goodman Point
• Trails
• GIS
• Movement
• Function

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the professors on my committee, Dr. James E. Snead, Dr. Mathew Des Lauriers, and Dr. Soheil Boroushaki, for their training, guidance, and encouragement throughout this journey. I would also like to thank Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Grant Coffey, and Dr. Mark Varien for their assistance, guidance, and encouragement on this project. Finally, I would also like to thank Colorado Mountain College, Peter Waller, the National Park Service at the Hovenweep National Monument, Chris Goetze and Sharyl Kinnear-Ferris.

Notes on Contributor

Aaron Tyson Davis attended California State University, Northridge for his Master's in Public Archaeology. After finishing his thesis and graduating he went on to get a job at the National Park Service in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area where he is currently working.