Chaco Great House
As early as the twelfth century A.D., the settlements of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico in the American Southwest were notable for their "great houses," massive stone buildings that contain hundreds of rooms and often stand three or four stories high. Archaeologists have been trying to determine how the buildings were used. While there is still no universally agreed upon explanation, there are three competing theories.
One theory holds that the Chaco structures were purely residential, with each housing hundreds of people. Supporters of this theory have interpreted Chaco great houses as earlier versions of the architecture seen in more recent Southwest societies. In particular, the Chaco houses appear strikingly similar to the large, well-known "apartment buildings" at Taos, New Mexico, in which many people have been living for centuries.
A second theory contends that the Chaco structures were usedto store food supplies. One of the main crops of the Chaco people was grain maize, which could be stored for long periods of time without spoiling and could serve as a long-lasting supply of food. The supplies of maize had to be stored somewhere, and the size of the great houses would make them very suitable for the purpose.
A third theory proposes that houses were used as ceremonial centers. Close to one house, called Pueblo Alto, archaeologists identified an enormous mound formed by a pile of old material. Excavations of the mound revealed deposits containing a surprisingly large number of broken pots. This finding has been interpreted as evidence that people gathered at Pueblo Alto for special ceremonies. At the ceremonies, they ate festive meals and then discarded the pots in which the meals had been prepared or served. Such ceremonies have been documented for other Native American cultures.
For Reference：
While the precise function of Chaco great houses remains uncertain, there are three conflicting hypotheses. Firstly, they were supposed to be the houses for the similarity to later apartment buildings in New Mexico. Secondly, they were used for the storage of main crops. Thirdly, houses were considered to have held the ceremonies, based on the broken pots unearthed around. (59 words)
The ancient settlements of Chaco Canyon, famous for great stone houses, remain mysterious as for their functions. First, they might be residential for apparent connection to Taos’. Alternative explanations include storing maize to secure food sources which require huge space and extended period. Finally, the ceremonial purpose is traced with the broken pots for festive meals documented in native culture. (60 words)