Date: Thu, 16 May 96 11:49:22 GMT
Subject: Re: crisis, social change, Chaco canyon


> 
> 
> Adam:  I forget what they were called, but I visited an old
> archeological site somewhere near the New Mexico / Arizona / Colorado
> border, where a  whole civilisation does seem to have literally
> dissappeared for no  apparent reason - do you know what I'm talking
> about - it's quite near neck of the woods, sort of.
> 
> Lisa:  You are probably talking about Chaco Canyon. 

I probably am.

It was definitely a canyon, and I do remember multi storey buildings.
Your account of its decline seems very plausible.

Yes, you're right, I would see this as evidence of a social crisis ie
the relations of production enabling the development of new forces
of production ( the city and everything associated with it ) , but 
then creating problems which could not be solved within the framework
of those social relations.

> 
> As all necessities of life, food, fuel and water became more scarce
> and difficult to get, at some point, people went away."
>

WHY were these problems not solved ?

They don't seem insoluble to me.

It seems to me that given the level of technology to create such a city,
they had the technological means to solve it, if only by starting a new
city up or downstream. There must have been a political / social 
explanation.

Adam.

PS It's very American of you to know more about Chaco Canyon than Rome 
Or maybe its just very European of me to know more about Rome ( I don't
know much, actually ) than Chaco Canyon.

Adam Rose
SWP
Manchester
UK


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