Basketmaker III: Emergence of Villages, Kivas, and Transition to Ancestral Puebloan Culture. Basketmaker III period began at approximately 500 CE Full sedentary villages emerged in the Four Corners area with two-chamber pithouses (antechamber and main chamber) Villages ranged from small hamlets to larger villages with dozens of pithouses

Around 500 CE, Basketmaker III arrived! Full villages in Four Corners with two-chamber pithouses. LA 4169 stored maize for 138 people. Stockades for defense/turkeys. Kivas evolved from pithouses. The Dillard site shows diverse peoples. Shabik'eshchee Village had 100+ pithouses. Brownwares gave way to painted gray wares. By 700-750 CE, above-ground pueblos emergedā€”Ancestral Puebloan culture was born! šŸ 

Key Facts

  • Basketmaker III period began at approximately 500 CE
  • Full sedentary villages emerged in the Four Corners area with two-chamber pithouses (antechamber and main chamber)
  • Villages ranged from small hamlets to larger villages with dozens of pithouses
  • At site LA 4169 in Northern New Mexico on the upper San Juan River, storage pits could store enough maize to feed at least 138 people for an entire year
  • Stockades were built around some settlements, possibly for defense or to contain turkeys and dogs
  • Kivas emerged as large subterranean community or ceremonial spaces, likely evolving from large pithouses
  • Kivas had multiple floor layers showing continual maintenance and renovation by the community
  • The Dillard site shows pithouses of varying styles from other areas, indicating people from all over congregated in these villages
  • Chaco Canyon's Shabik'eshchee Village had over 100 pithouses excavated
  • Brownwares fell out of style; gray wares emerged with black painted designs by the end of Basketmaker III
  • Basketmaker III period ends with Pueblo I period and emergence of Ancestral Puebloan culture around 700-750 CE
  • Residential and storage structures began being built above ground as recognizable pueblos after 700-750 CE

Related site: Shabik'eshchee Village — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: Basketmaker Culture and Puebloan Origins by Ancient Americas