Unsolved mysteries

Why the Indigenous peoples who populated the Four Corners area left the region around 1250 AD will continue to be an endless source of speculation and mystery. But that hasn’t stopped researchers and experts from drawing parallels between challenges faced then and now.

In fact, that very topic is the subject of a new documentary – “Population Overshoot and Collapse in the Ancient Four Corners” – which will be screened at 7 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 22, at Fort Lewis College’s Student Union Building Ballroom.

Between about 1250-1300 AD, an entire population of about 60,000 people left their highly evolved and established civilization in the Four Corners, which included major settlements like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon.

The question has always been: why?

According to the National Park Service, archeological evidence points to a series of prolonged droughts, diminishing resources and social upheaval that may have contributed to the abandonment of the region. All these factors likely led to crop failures, as well as the depletion of soils, forests and animals. Researchers have also found evidence of violence among tribes, leading many to believe there were social and political problems as well.

By the 13th century, once bustling settlements like Mesa Verde were completely empty. Many tribes traveled south into Arizona and New Mexico.

In his film, Ruiz interviews top scholars, archeologists, tribal members and even Southwest author Craig Childs in an effort to address these questions. And, Ruiz explores what we can learn from the past as our society faces many of the same issues today.

“We again see the historical violence and unrest that played out in the ancient Four Corners may be repeating itself today, and the present megadrought and pandemic are only reinforcing the scientific evidence,” Jesse Tune, narrator of the film and former archaeology teacher at FLC, said.

Also during the screening, Diné weaver and scholar Venancio Aragón will give a brief talk. Aragón is a citizen of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico who fuses his education and culture into his art using ancient textiles and techniques.

The event is free and open to the public.