Ancestral Puebloans

The modern Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest are from a genetic and cultural lineage that dates all the way back to the Pleistocene. A thousand years ago, the Ancestral Puebloans were the dominant civilization of the high desert. Their multitude of canyon settlements, cliff dwellings, and cities of adobe brick are some of the most impressive archaeological ruins in the world.

Tracing their phases of development from Paleo-Indian to Archaic to Ancestral Puebloan and the early phases of the modern Pueblo culture, we also look at their geographic setting and explore facts about their daily lives, including their habits as hunters and gatherers, then agriculturalists. We discuss their genetics. From the Hopi lands of northeastern Arizona to the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, we look at the roots of the Tanoan and Keresan-speaking Pueblos of today. We examine the history of their weaving and pottery and story-telling. Also, the depth of their rituals and religion.

Come join us for an hour of desert sunshine and the breathtaking artifacts of a civilization nearly 11,000 years old!

[doncarloregio]

This is my homeland and my people. I can't imagine living anywhere else in the world! I've traveled and seen beautiful places but my heart, indeed my whole body belongs to the desert. I don't live very far from Taos Pueblo so i'm surrounded and reminded of the timelessness of this land and its history. The food we eat, the art we create, the spirituality we share is what makes this land the land of my soul.

[Luci_S]

My ancestors are Puebloans!

Grew up doing masonry and working with adobe material with dad back in the 90s when I was a kid! Proud of my ancestors!

[yvonnelewis]

The “Land of Enchantment” I am from Colorado, and lived in New Mexico for a while also. I fell in love with the native peoples, their culture and their food. My mother taught us to love and admire the native peoples. My first coloring book when I moved to New Mexico, was a coloring book of Katinas, my first sacred doll was in the image of the early Navajo women with their crinkled skirts and velvet blouses. I was 10 then, I wore out my first pair of moccasins and cried when my mother took them away because I had worn the soles completely through. I am 63 now and still I love the native culture and their beliefs. The Native Americans knew how to live in Harmony with the land and I will always admire their cultures and beliefs. Thank you for sharing this history with all of us. May the descendants of our native Americans live long and full lives may their clans grow and prosper. Native wisdom is a treasure too few know and the world could benefit from greatly.

[jeanettewaverly]

A well-researched presentation of a complex and often controversial subject. Thank you for tackling it. —A former Mesa Verde ranger.

[tommunyon]

Some of our Sunday outings when I was a child in New Mexico were spent exploring the ruins left by the ancestors of the Pueblo people.

[mattyoungblood]

I've read the research on the White Sands tracks, and I don't understand what's "inconclusive" about them, much less controversial. I'm not sure how it could get more conclusive that there were people walking in Southern NM 23, 000 yrs before present. There are other tracks in the area of megafuana that date the same. It's time to let go of the Clovis First theory.

[truegame]

55 minutes of chills throughout my whole body. I'm a cochiti pueblo decedent my grandmother moved to Colorado and built a family there and sadly passed when I was 5 years old. And sadly through alcohol addiction my heritage was never taught to me. Thank you for this video!

[tylercoombs]

About 5-6 years ago they discovered an ice age village near the city of Bella Bella, out in BC Canada. The village is about 16, 000ish years old and could have housed about 500 people. Archeologist were going off of oral stories that were passed down by the local tribe that call Bella Bella home today, which in many accounts was very accurate. The tribe believes their ancestors sailed to their current home over many generations. (I'm going by memory so the details i presented might not be entirely accurate)

[kathrineprescott]

I was born in Albuquerque and have Pueblo in me. It’s nice to learn about where I came from

[melissamybubbles]

I'm glad you're continuing what Nick started. This was really interesting. Thank you.

[JonnoPlays]

This is one of the best presentations I've ever seen. Great job keep up the good work

[rockweiler]

Thank you for sharing your incredible respect for history.

[Rex-jdvu]

Every time I see one of this awesome videos and I cry a little, remembering Nick. I still admire his and this work you are continuing, thank you

[indeedgenous]

As a pueblo person from the Zuni and Kewa people I must say that about 85% of this video is accurate. Mostly accurate is better than being misrepresented. Thanks for being respectful as well. Our origins are not myth to us but rooted in our truths. A small band of Kiowa integrated with the Jemez people about 250+ years ago. just thought yall should know this as well.

[HayakaOskola]

Wow. What a wonderful and detailed breakdown and retelling. Thank you!!

[Matlacha_Painter]

Captivating. Fascinating. Elucidating. And If I may say so, another SAMA presentation that is no doubt making Nick smile and be proud that you are continuing what he began.

[thecrew]

Beautifully done! Thankyou for the work you did putting this video together. I grew up in the four corners area and still have family there. You are spot on with the information you have presented. I enjoyed watching and learning more about one of my interests.

[aaroniouse]

I love how this is all based on the assumption that people couldn't build any sort of boats 16, 000 years ago, yet they could somehow build giant megalithic structures that we can't duplicate today.

[WolfRoss]

This is the most balanced presentation I have seen. Both my son and I have taken DNA tests with FTDNA. My son has a Swedish grandmother that 100% Swedish and my son has DNA matches from Sweden where the YDNA is the same as the primary Native American Q-242. And I have have with a Bavarian, Scottish, Swiss, Luxembourger, Norwegian mix extra mutations on my Mtdna that are associated with C mtdna. It just makes me wonder how much people have moved around in the past.

[jimweatherill]

Superb. I lived and worked with the native people on the Colorado Plateau and the the inter-mountain West for 40 years . I'm far richer for that experience.