Strontium isotopes reveal distant sources of architectural timber in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

Substantial evidence indicates that timber resources were extracted from the southern Chuska Mountains of the Defiance Plateau around A.D. 1030-1100.

“Substantial evidence (Betancourt, Dean & Hull 1986; English et al. 2001; Guiterman, Swetnam & Dean 2016; Reynolds et al. 2005) indicates that timber resources were extracted from the southern Chuska Mountains of the Defiance Plateau around A.D. 1030–1100.”

The North Road and Mexican Springs Road were selected because of their close proximity to timber resource locations that would have been increasingly accessed in the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D.

“In this case, we selected the North Road and the Mexican Springs Road as the basis for our corridors, because of their close proximity to timber resource locations that would have been increasingly accessed in the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D. (Betancourt, Dean & Hull 1986; English et al. 2001; Guiterman, Swetnam & Dean 2016; Reynolds et al. 2005).”

Other products like ceramics, or resources like timber, were circulated regionally.

“while other products like ceramics, or resources like timber, were circulated regionally (e.g., English et al. 2001; Guiterman, Swetnam & Dean 2016; King 2003; Mills, Carpenter & Grimm1997; Shepard 1939; Shepard in Judd 1954: 236–238).”

Nearly one-fifth of all beams used in Chaco Canyon must have been carried from distant mountain ranges.

“thus indicating that nearly one-fifth of all beams used in Chaco Canyon must have been carried from distant mountain ranges (English et al. 2001)”

Many timbers were imported into Chaco Canyon from peripheral locations at distances of around 75 kilometers.

“a growing body of evidence suggests that many timbers were imported into Chaco Canyon from peripheral locations at distances of around 75 kilometers (Betancourt, Dean & Hull 1986; English et al. 2001; Guiterman, Swetnam & Dean 2016; Reynolds et al. 2005; Windes & McKenna 2001).”

Recent research has reiterated the occurrence of long distance timber importation to Chaco Canyon.

“The intent and use of these features has eluded archaeological consensus, although recent research has reiterated the occurrence of long distance timber importation to Chaco Canyon.”

Products such as ceramics and resources such as timber were circulated regionally in the Chaco world.

“while other products like ceramics, or resources like timber, were circulated regionally”

Timber resources were extracted from the southern Chuska Mountains of the Defiance Plateau around A.D. 1030-1100.

“Substantial evidence (Betancourt, Dean & Hull 1986; English et al. 2001; Guiterman, Swetnam & Dean 2016; Reynolds et al. 2005) indicates that timber resources were extracted from the southern Chuska Mountains of the Defiance Plateau around A.D. 1030–1100.”

The North Road and the Mexican Springs Road are in close proximity to timber resource locations that would have been increasingly accessed in the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D.

“In this case, we selected the North Road and the Mexican Springs Road as the basis for our corridors, because of their close proximity to timber resource locations that would have been increasingly accessed in the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D. (Betancourt, Dean & Hull 1986; English et al. 2001; Guiterman, Swetnam & Dean 2016; Reynolds et al. 2005).”

The North Road and the Mexican Springs Road were selected as the basis for the corridors because of their close proximity to timber resource locations that would have been increasingly accessed in the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D.

“we selected the North Road and the Mexican Springs Road as the basis for our corridors, because of their close proximity to timber resource locations that would have been increasingly accessed in the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D.”