-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
1/34
Using the Community
Capitals Framework inan Ethnohistorical
Context
Kurt Mantonya, Senior
Associate, Heartland
Center for LeadershipDevelopment
July 26, 2010
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
2/34
Chaco Canyon, New MexicoChaco Canyon, New Mexico
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
3/34
The Community CapitalsThe Community Capitals
y Natural
y Cultural
y
Humany Social
y Political
y
Builty Financial
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
4/34
The Community CapitalsThe Community Capitals
FrameworkFramework
Adapted from Flora, Flora and Fey 2004
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
5/34
Chaco Canyons CapitalsChaco Canyons Capitals
NaturalNatural
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
6/34
Natural CapitalNatural Capital
y Forestsup to 50 miles away
y Turquoise mines
y
Sandstone bluffsy Archaeoastronomy
Solstices
Equinoxes
Lunar standstills
y Agriculture/Hunter-Gather economy
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
7/34
Chaco Canyons CapitalsChaco Canyons Capitals
BuiltBuilt
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
8/34
Built CapitalBuilt Capital
y Road Network400 miles connecting
some 75 communities
y Great Houses
y Outlying communities
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
9/34
Chaco Canyons CapitalsChaco Canyons Capitals
PoliticalPolitical
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
10/34
Political CapitalPolitical Capital
y Chaco developed as an administrative andritual center and directed agricultural lifeof the region.
y Burials suggest to some the existence ofelite leadership
y Acoma and other Pueblos in the regionsrecall Chaco as the seminal WhiteHouse and regard it as a sacred place
y Hopi clans originated there
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
11/34
Chaco Canyons CapitalsChaco Canyons Capitals
FinancialFinancial
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
12/34
Financial CapitalFinancial Capital
y Trade within the greater Chaco region
and Mexico (copper bells and scarlet
macaws)
y Trade with outlying Great Houses such as
Salmon and Aztec importing pottery and
turquoise
y Chaco could have been a redistributioncenter where food could be stored
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
13/34
Chaco Canyons CapitalsChaco Canyons Capitals
HumanHumany Different theories on the population of
Chaco Canyon but some as high as 5,000
y Evidence of class structure i.e. elites and
working class (foragers, farmers)
according to architecture
y Specialized craftspeople present (weavers,
potters, jewelers, astronomers)
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
14/34
Chaco Canyons CapitalsChaco Canyons Capitals
CulturalCulturaly Pueblo religion today is based on
harmony with the natural world
y Modern Puebloans are matrilineal,
matrilocal and matriarchal
y Presence of rock artsymbolic, doodling,
maps, clan representations and
astronomical references (Super Nova of1054)
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
15/34
Understanding CollapseUnderstanding Collapse
MelvinMelvinT
uminT
umin and John Bennettand John Bennetty Every society must be able to answer the
basic biological needs of its members:
food, drink, shelter and medical care
y Every society must provide for the
production and distribution of goods and
services through a division of labor, rules
concerning property and trade or ideasabout the role of work.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
16/34
Understanding Collapse ContinuedUnderstanding Collapse Continued
y Every society must provide for thereproduction of new members andconsider laws and issues related to
reproduction (regulation, marriageableage, number of children, etc.)
y Every society must provide for thetraining (education, apprenticeship, passing
on of values) of an individual so that he orshe can become a functioning adult in thesociety
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
17/34
Understanding Collapse ContinuedUnderstanding Collapse Continued
y Every society must provide for the
maintenance of internal and external
order (laws, courts, police, wars,
diplomacy)
y Every society must provide meaning and
motivation to its members
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
18/34
Understanding CollapseUnderstanding Collapse
Jared DiamondJared Diamondy Five-factor framework
Human environmental impact
Climate change
Hostile neighbors
Decreasing support by friendly neighbors
Societal response to the problems, whether
environmental or not
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
19/34
Why was Chaco Abandoned?Why was Chaco Abandoned?
A Community Capitals AnalysisA Community Capitals Analysis
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
20/34
Loss of Natural CapitalLoss of Natural Capital
y Series of droughts (1125-1180 A.D., 1270-
1274 A.D. and 1275 drought lasted 14
years)
Agriculture suffered creating widespread
famine
y Hunting and Gathering limits become
increasingly larger in scopey Forest depletion
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
21/34
A Response to Natural CapitalA Response to Natural Capital
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
22/34
Loss of Political CapitalLoss of Political Capital
y Drought may have lead to religious
upheaval, internal political conflict and
perhaps even warfare.
y Architectural changes to the plaza at
Bonito had once been open to the
outside, now closed off indicating strife.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
23/34
Loss of Human CapitalLoss of Human Capital
y Loss of motivation by members in both
Chaco proper and outlying communities
to perform task and maintenance roles
such as supplying food, timber andpottery to the political and religious
centers.
y Less overall population due to droughtand famine
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
24/34
Loss of Built and Financial CapitalLoss of Built and Financial Capital
y Trade routes start to dry up
y Construction is limited or ceases
y Existing structures in disrepair
y Canals and roads are not maintained
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
25/34
Chaco 860 A.D. to 1150 A.D.Chaco 860 A.D. to 1150 A.D.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
26/34
Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
27/34
Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
28/34
Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
29/34
Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.Chaco 1130 A.D. to 1180 A.D.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
30/34
Chaco 1200 A.D.Chaco 1200 A.D.
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
31/34
Building Social Capital?Building Social Capital?
y Post 13th century clan formation was a
response to social and geographical
dislocation (abandonment) and created a
need for a new way to definerelationships between neighbors.
y These clans are present today in Puebloan
society (Acoma,Taos, etc.)
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
32/34
ConclusionConclusion
y Natural capital played the most significant
role
y There were strategic responses to capital
losses
y The community capitals framework in this
system is interdependent on each
otherwhen one fails the others beginto falter
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
33/34
What are Some Next StepsWhat are Some Next Steps
y Analyze other societies that have
collapsed or abandoned in this same
framework
y Look at historic communities that sprang
up (boom/bust towns), analyze for the
capitals. Were all capitals present? If not,
which ones were lacking?
-
8/8/2019 Using the Community Capitals Framework in an Ethnohistorical Context
34/34
Thank youThank you
Heartland Center for Leadership
Development
(402) 474-7667
www.heartlandcenter.info