# McElmo Phase

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The **McElmo Phase** refers to a period in the late 11th and early 12th centuries when drastic changes in ceramics and masonry techniques appeared among the people living in [Chaco Canyon](/source/Chaco_Culture_National_Historical_Park) in what is now [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico) in the [American Southwest](/source/American_Southwest).

## Characteristics

During this period the [Ancestral Puebloans](/source/Ancestral_Puebloans) living in the canyon started using painted black-on-white [pottery](/source/Pottery) rather than what had been their standard [grey ware](/source/Grey_ware). The [masonry](/source/Masonry) and layout of [great houses](/source/Great_house_(pueblo)) built during the McElmo phase, which was the last major construction era in the canyon, also differ significantly from those built during the early parts of the [Bonito Phase](/source/Bonito_Phase) (850 to 1140), which overlaps with the McElmo Phase. [Archeologists](/source/Archeologist) initially suggested that the McElmo influence was brought to Chaco Canyon by immigrants from [Mesa Verde](/source/Mesa_Verde_National_Park) in what is now [Colorado](/source/Colorado), but subsequent research suggests that the developments were of local origin. Archeologist R. Gwinn Vivian notes, "The jury is still out on this question, a problem that poses intriguing possibilities for future work."[1]

## Chetro Ketl

A smaller square building, known as the Talus Unit, with a McElmo style floor plan lies just west of [Chetro Ketl](/source/Chetro_Ketl).[2] The Kiva G complex was constructed using McElmo type masonry, and ceramic evidence uncovered from refuse found in Chetro Ketl indicates a significant McElmo presence.[3] Much of the masonry found in North Block F also appears to be McElmo style.[4]

## See also

- [Hillside Ruin](/source/Hillside_Ruin)

## References

1. Vivian & Hilpert 2012, pp. 72, 184–86.

1. Lekson & McKenna 1983, p. 1.

1. Lekson 1983b, pp. 263, 317.

1. Lekson 1983a, p. 101.

**Bibliography**

- Lekson, Stephen H. (1983a), ["Building Stages"](http://www.chacoarchive.org/media/pdf/002182.pdf), "The Architecture and Dendrochronology of Chetro Ketl", National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, pp. 95–103[dead link]
- Lekson, Stephen H. (1983b), ["Construction History of Chetro Ketl"](http://www.chacoarchive.org/media/pdf/002182.pdf), "The Architecture and Dendrochronology of Chetro Ketl", National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, pp. 241–71[dead link]
- Lekson, Stephen H. & McKenna, Peter J. (1983), ["Introduction: Chetro Ketl and this Study"](http://www.chacoarchive.org/media/pdf/002182.pdf), "The Architecture and Dendrochronology of Chetro Ketl", National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, pp. 1–10[dead link]
- Vivian, R. Gwinn & Hilpert, Bruce (2012), *The Chaco Handbook: An Encyclopedic Guide*, 2 ed., University of Utah Press, ISBN 978-1-60781-195-4

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [McElmo Phase](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McElmo_Phase) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McElmo_Phase?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.