October 1, 2014

Twin 1,300-Year-Old Villages Discovered in Arizona Sand Dunes

Archaeologists surveying near the Petrified Forest have found two villages dating to 700 CE. The first village had 50-75 structures lined with sandstone slabs, even though there is no stone nearby. Then, in the next season, the same team found another village with the same features about a mile away. Brown ceramics and stone points found there match the late Basketmaker period. The team found a smaller sandstone lined village with no pottery that probably pre-dates the two larger villages. These villages are transitional between hunting and gathering and more elaborate Chaco period sites.  And the location of the sites may have been on a pilgramage path.

Western Digs has the story and photos here;
http://westerndigs.org/twin-1300-year-old-villages-discovered-in-arizona-sand-dunes/