Pueblo III Period

[16] During the Pueblo III period some people were buried with personal objects, indicating both a level of prestige and evolved religious beliefs.

To have earned a higher status within the community infers that the settlements developed hierarchical political and social systems.

[18] As a means to improve agricultural yield, the Pueblo III period saw advancements in water conservation.

Polychrome (multiple colored) pottery painted in white, orange, red and black was made at the end of the Pueblo III period.

[4] Due to the considerable refinements during this period, pottery from Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon are considered "some of the world's finest ceramic art, ancient or modern.

"[10] Some of the material goods from this period are: By 1300, Ancient Pueblo People from the Four Corners region abandoned their settlements.

The migration was likely as the result of prolonged drought from AD 1276 to 1299 which would have caused considerable hardship, such as starvation, raids from neighboring starving people, and dramatic reduction in the pueblo population.

Navajo boy at T-shaped door
Map of Ancient Pueblo People in the American Southwest and Mexico .
Great kiva at Chaco Culture National Historical Park
A canteen (pot), dated about AD 1075 to 1300, excavated from the ruins in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.
Chalcedony Knife (AD 1000–1200) from Chaco Culture National Historical Park
12th century sandal from Chaco Culture National Historical Park