Questions and Answers
What is the Pecos Classification System (PCS) and what are the periods defined by?
PCS is a division of all known Ancient Pueblo peoples cultures into chronological phases, based on changes in architecture, art, cultural remains, and pottery.
What is the origin of PCS?
It was a consensus reached at a 1927 archaeological conference held in Pecos, New Mexico, which was organized by the United States archaeologist Alfred V. Kidder.
What are the 7 periods of the PCS?
BM II, BM III, Pueblo I, Pueblo II, Pueblo III, Pueblo IV, Pueblo V.
Before BM II and BM III, what two periods took place?
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The land bridge that led to one of the ways North America was populated was located between which continents?
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When did maize arrive in the American Southwest and who delivered it?
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What are the two contending models of dispersal of Zea mays (maize) presented in Merrill et al. 2009?
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The earliest maize in the Southwest comes from three open sites and two rock shelters, located where?
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Who devised the term Basketmaker and when?
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What is the date range for BM II?
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What is the date range for BM III?
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What is the date range for Pueblo I?
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What is the date range for Pueblo II?
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What is the date range for Pueblo III?
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What is the date range for Pueblo IV?
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What is the date range for Pueblo V?
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Study Notes
Pecos Classification System Overview
- The Pecos Classification System (PCS) categorizes Ancient Pueblo peoples' cultures into chronological phases.
- Developments are based on architectural, artistic, cultural, and pottery changes.
Origin of the PCS
- The system was established during a 1927 archaeological conference in Pecos, New Mexico.
- Alfred V. Kidder, a prominent United States archaeologist, played a key role in organizing the event.
Periods of the PCS
- The PCS includes seven distinct periods:
- BM II
- BM III
- Pueblo I
- Pueblo II
- Pueblo III
- Pueblo IV
- Pueblo V
Pre-BM Periods
- The timeline prior to BM II and BM III includes the Paleo-lithic and Neo-lithic periods.
Population of North America
- North America's early inhabitants reached the continent via a land bridge between Siberia (Russia) and Alaska (North America).
Introduction of Maize
- Maize was introduced to the American Southwest around 2,100 BC by Proto-Uto-Aztecan peoples.
Dispersal Models of Maize
- There are two models of Zea mays dispersal:
- Group-to-group diffusion: Knowledge and maize spread between groups without large-scale migration.
- Long-distance migration: Meso-American farmers introduced maize through significant migration.
Early Maize Sites
- The earliest maize evidence in the Southwest is found in:
- Arizona's Santa Cruz River Basin
- The upper Sonoran Desert
- Western New Mexico's eastern Gila River valley
Origin of the Term Basketmaker
- The term "Basketmaker" was introduced during excavations led by the Wetherills in Grand Gulch (1896-97).
- T. Mitchell Prudden published the term in 1897.
Date Ranges for Classification Periods
- BM II: 1,500 BCE to 400 CE
- BM III: 400 to 700 CE
- Pueblo I: 700 to 900 CE
- Pueblo II: 900 to 1100 CE
- Pueblo III: 1100 to 1300 CE
- Pueblo IV: 1300 to 1600 CE
- Pueblo V: 1600 to present
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Description
Test your knowledge on the Pecos Classification System, which categorizes the cultures of Ancient Pueblo peoples. This quiz covers its origins, chronological phases, and key characteristics defined by this classification method.
