Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West
Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West North Annex · Chaco Site
Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE)·Neolithic·🇺🇸 New Mexico, Chaco, United States
About
About Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West
Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West in New Mexico, Chaco, United States is a Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE) ancient village attributed to Neolithic. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal site extent 150 × 90 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 36.0600N -107.8850E controls access to New Mexico resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient village for New Mexico, Chaco, illustrating Neolithic construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 4000 BCE–500 CE
- Period
- Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial and residential complex
- Rediscovered
- 1968 survey
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 4000 BCE–500 CE
Initial construction of Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West main structure
c. 1908
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1968–2013
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
36.0600° N · 107.8850° W · 136 m · 4 mapped features
- Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West — Main StructurestructurePrincipal ancient village — Site extent 150 × 90 m with diagnostic masonry/panel36.0608° N · 107.8841° W
- Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West — Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature36.0590° N · 107.8857° W
- Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West — Peripheral FeatureoutlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial36.0615° N · 107.8838° W
- Chaco Chetro Ketl Great Kiva West — Hydraulic/CisternhydraulicHydraulic feature — cistern/reservoir or rock-cut channel associated with site36.0584° N · 107.8861° W