HERE COME THE GIRLS

Mysterious lost Chacoan civilisation was ruled by women who transferred power between daughters, researchers claim

       

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A view of Pueblo Bonito, an ancient Chacoan house in New Mexico

The Chacoans were wiped from history almost 1000 years ago and lived in huge sprawling mansions with hundreds of rooms.


AN ANCIENT North American society was run by an all-powerful female elite, scientists have discovered.
The mysterious Chacoans- who walked the Earth 1000 years ago - lived in lavish stone homes with hundreds of rooms in the area that has come to be known as New Mexico in the US.


The ancient society were wiped from history in around 1140 AD, but left behind huge stone houses with hundreds of rooms that have baffled scientists.
One of the largest standing sites is Pueblo Bonito, in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, which has 650 rooms.
And a new analysis of Pueblo Bonito found that the mysterious society was run by high-powered women.
After analysing a burial tomb reserved for the most important people, scientists have confirmed that power among the Chacoans was passed down through the maternal line between 800-1130AD.
Archaeologists from Pennsylvania State University collected DNA from nine of the Chacoans in Room 33, reserved for high profile members of the community.

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Diorama depicting Chacoan life at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA

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Human head from an effigy pottery vessel, found at Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico

  

Photograph and plan view map of Pueblo Bonito with the location of room 33 noted from researchers G Perry and T Harper at Pennsylvania State University

  

Scientist’s analysis of skulls buried in Room 33 prove that power was passed through a female blood line

  

Researcher T Harper’s diagram illustrates the inferred relationships for at least two pairs of individuals interred in room 33

The bodies were found to have identical mitochondrial genomes and all belonged to the same maternal family line.
Discoveries included a 40-year-old female and her grandson as well as a 45-year-old female and her daughter.
They also found the skulls of a 40-year-old man who was killed from a blow to the head.

 

             

                  

The research paper, which was published in journal Nature stated: “Both of these observations are consistent with the importance of close matrilineal ties among those interred in the room.”
Leadership in the group was passed down the female line until the society’s collapse around 1140AD.
It’s not known exactly what happened to the Chacoans because there is no evidence they wrote or drew anything legible.
But its believed they suffered a huge drought before being wiped out.
(The Sun, UK)

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