Pueblo I

The Pueblo I period, spanning from roughly 750 to 950 CE, marks a significant transition in the Ancestral Pueblo culture. During this time, building practices shifted from subterranean pithouses to above-ground structures, leading to the construction of larger communities, some with over 100 rooms. Stone masonry began to be utilized, and kivas, which are underground ceremonial chambers, became important community features. Cotton was introduced as a crop, and pottery evolved with new shapes and decorations, while basketry became less common. Ancestral Pueblo communities expanded into new areas, including canyons and traditional mesa-top locations. The term "Anasazi," meaning "ancestors of the enemy," was given by the Navajo people and is now often considered disrespectful, with "Ancestral Pueblo" being the preferred term.123