For centuries, the Picuris Pueblo people of northern New Mexico have preserved oral histories linking them to the great Ancestral Puebloan civilization of Chaco Canyon (circa 850–1250 CE). Now, peer-reviewed genetic research published in Nature Communications (2023) confirms what their traditions have always asserted: a direct ancestral connection to Chaco’s ancient inhabitants.
This deep study represents a paradigm shift in Southwestern archaeology, demonstrating how Indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge science can converge to rewrite history. Shocking finding: Picuris Pueblo carries genetic ancestry older than Clovis, suggesting ties to the earliest Indigenous peoples of the Americas (Pinotti et al., 2024). *”Part of their ancestry predates Anzick-1,”* said lead author Dr. Thomaz Pinotti (University of Copenhagen).
Chaco Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the center of one of the most sophisticated pre-Columbian societies in North America. Its monumental Great Houses (e.g., Pueblo Bonito), intricate road systems, and celestial alignments reflect an advanced understanding of engineering and astronomy (Lekson 2015, “The Chaco Meridian”). Yet, by the 13th century, the canyon was largely abandoned, sparking debates about the fate of its people.
A 2023 study in Nature Communications (Kennedy et al.) analyzed ancient DNA from Chacoan burials and compared it to modern Picuris Pueblo members. Key findings: Maternal Lineage Continuity Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups B2a and C1b were prevalent in both ancient Chacon’s and modern Picuris people (Table 1, Kennedy et al. 2023) This confirms unbroken maternal lineages over 800 years.
Whole-genome sequencing showed strong genetic affinity between Chacoan remains and Picuris Pueblo, with no signs of large-scale migration from outside groups (Supplementary Data 2). Refutes the “replacement hypothesis” proposed by some archaeologists (Plog 1997, “Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest”).
Picuris Pueblo’s Response: “We Knew All Along”
For Picuris leaders, this study validates generations of oral history. Governor Craig Quanchello stated:
“Science now proves what our elders have taught for centuries—we are the people of Chaco.”
This research bridges archaeology, genetics, and Indigenous epistemology, proving that: Picuris Pueblo are Chaco’s descendants, Oral traditions are scientifically valid Collaborative research is the future.
This study found Oldest Native American ancestry, Confirms Clovis weren’t the “first Americans”, Proves Chaco’s descendants are still here. For Indigenous Communities this research Validates Picuris oral histories. Strengthens land and cultural rights. Shows how science should collaborate with tribes.