Changing Contexts of Pueblo Adaptations, A.D. 1250-1600

The debate among archaeologists about the nature of Pueblo political organization during the late prehistoric period has become rather polarized in recent years (Cordell 1979b; Cordell and Plog 1979; Plog 1979; Hunter-Anderson 1981; Upham 1982; Graves and Reid 1983; Plog and Upham 1983; Whittlesey 1983; Plog 1985; Upham and Plog 1986; Graves 1987; Lightfoot 1987). Unfortunately, third parties to this dispute are hindered by the fact that neither side has yet adequately published the data that ostensibly form the basis of their positions. While it is therefore difficult to evaluate the substance of the various arguments, the debate has helped to identify several issues of general anthropological interest.