Ch.5 Upton-kopia

Anasazi Architecture and Great Houses

Historical Context

  • Ancestry: The Anasazi, ancestors of modern Pueblo Indians in New Mexico and Arizona, constructed varied housing types including:

    • Underground pit houses

    • Cave dwellings

    • Cliff-side and freestanding structures

  • Great Houses:

    • Ruined 'great houses' are of particular interest in Anasazi studies.

    • These structures intrigue researchers and have been regarded as significant to understanding the Anasazi culture.

    • Their purpose and social function remain topics for debate.

Notable Structures

  • Pueblo Bonito

    • One of the best-known great houses in Chaco Canyon, constructed around 910-1110 CE.

    • Features:

      • Curved, multistory rear wall

      • Central plaza divided, with low rooms and kivas (ceremonial chambers)

      • Hypothesis: Represents a social organization based on kinship.

Interpretation Challenges

  • Reliance on formal analogies between ancient and contemporary structures complicates understanding.

  • Isolation of buildings for interpretation can lead to misleading conclusions about Anasazi society.

Societal Context of the Great Houses

Agriculture and Social Change

  • Transition to Agriculture:

    • Adoption between 700-1000 CE changed Anasazi social dynamics.

    • Shift from single-room pit houses to complex above-ground structures.

  • Evolution of Pueblo Bonito:

    • Initially a small space growing through three main phases (1020-1130 CE) reflecting improvements in craftsmanship and increased scale due to agricultural practices.

    • Environmental changes (increased rainfall) influenced the concentration of people and development of communities near water junctions.

Settlement Patterns and Leadership

  • Complex Settlement Systems:

    • Evidence suggests a stratified society with a mix of larger great houses and smaller communal houses.

    • Casa Rinconada: A notable large kiva indicating important social functions separate from great houses.

    • Great houses likely served as residences for elite leaders controlling resources rather than communal living spaces.

Chaco Phenomenon and Decline

  • Regional System Breakdown:

    • The Chaco Phenomenon started to decline around 1140 following severe drought.

    • Power shifted to other areas like Mesa Verde, which ultimately altered existing structures and socio-political dynamics.

Architecture as Political Economy

Economic Influence on Architecture

  • Contextual Importance:

    • Buildings reflect societal values influenced by economic capabilities.

    • Understanding Anasazi great houses within a political economy framework reveals their role as society's response to environmental and economic conditions rather than mere cultural symbols.

The Commercial City Phenomenon

  • Proximity in Urban Development:

    • Early commercial cities such as Boston and Philadelphia illustrate how proximity dictated urban growth and business interactions.

    • Key concepts include face-to-face transactions and the importance of community in economic life.

  • Development Patterns:

    • Structures like the Philadelphia Arcade and examples from colonial Boston highlight systematic approaches in urban planning tied to economic roles.

Changes Over Time

Early Modern Economic Models

  • Systematic Approaches to Urban Planning:

    • Transition from local, proximity-based planning to more systematic, interconnected urban designs (the grid model).

    • Influence of economic thinkers led to urban spaces becoming more organized through zoning and systematic land-use planning.

  • Impact of Skyscrapers:

    • Skyscrapers emerged as symbols of economic power and advanced urban life, with varying definitions over time.

    • The relationship between aesthetics and practical needs marked the evolution of commercial architecture.

Conclusion

  • Enduring Significance:

    • The Anasazi great houses are reflections of a dynamic society shaped by economic realities and environmental circumstances that shifted over centuries.

    • Architectural forms provide insights not just into past cultures, but their responses to changing socio-economic environments.