Village Depopulation in Prehispanic Southwest Reflects Successful Agriculture, Says Colorado University Boulder Anthropologist.

Byline: University of Colorado, Boulder

BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 17 (AScribe Newswire) -- What often is described as abandonment of Southwestern village sites by ancient inhabitants is frequently inaccurate when the archaeological evidence is scrutinized, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder anthropologist.

Professor Linda Cordell, director of the CU Museum, said many sites that appear to be abandoned are settlements that were relocated nearby. Understanding the frequent movements of prehispanic farmers involves looking at their environment and subsistence patterns, the accuracy of archaeological investigations and the peoples' social landscape, or …