"Water
is essential for human life. The ancient Pueblo people needed water
for drinking, growing crops, washing, making pottery, and building
their homes. I believe they worked hard to conserve and control
their water. Southwestern Colorado is a high desert, and people
in the past had to be experts to survive as farmers in this dry
environment.
"One of the
most impressive ways that the Pueblo people saved and controlled
water was by building reservoirs. We excavated an ancient reservoir
near Woods Canyon Pueblo in 1994. The villagers had intentionally
built the reservoir in a flat, open area at the base of a hill so
that it could capture the water that ran down the steep slope. The
dam of this reservoir was made of earth and stone, and it would
have held water after the summer rains and during the spring snowmelt.
The reservoir was probably a place where the villagers gathered
water. Ancient Pueblo people used jars to carry water over short
distances, and we found pieces of pottery jars in our excavations
at the reservoir.
 "Small
springs located in the bottom of Woods Canyon would have been another
good source of water for the villagers. We think the people who
lived at Woods Canyon Pueblo relied on and maintained the springs
near their village. They most likely supplemented this supply with
water from the nearby reservoir. The people who lived at Woods Canyon
Pueblo had a lot to think about, but one of their most important
concerns must have been water."
|
Melissa
Churchill is an archaeologist at the Crow Canyon Archaeological
Center. She is the chief researcher for the Woods Canyon Pueblo
project. Melissa's archaeological interests include architecture,
the role of women in ancient cultures, and archaeological education.
During her free time, Melissa likes to raft rivers, play volleyball,
and walk with her two dogs. Melissa shares with us her thoughts
about how people lived in this desert place.
