Chaco

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaeological region in southwestern USA known for its large Puebloan ruins and distinctive architectural styles
2. A major cultural area inhabited by ancient Native American civilizations, characterized by intricate building techniques and historical significance
3. A landscape noted for its archaeological sites, showcasing the remnants of advanced societies and their contributions to regional history

Etymology: The name most likely comes from a Quechua word, "chaku," meaning a hunting ground or hunting enclosure. Spanish speakers applied it to the vast lowland region of South America now called the Gran Chaco, and the name seems to have been carried to the arid river valley in northwestern New Mexico, though the exact route is uncertain. The canyon and river kept the name, and the archaeological label "Chaco" came to refer to the people and culture centred there. Nothing in the name itself describes the place's monuments. The word simply marks a landscape, and the great stone buildings that gave the region its fame were named after the canyon, not the other way round.

Synonyms: Chaco region, Chacoan