A new prehistory of the American Southwest is emerging from archaeology, osteology, and Native American traditional history. The old stereotype of ancient Southwestern Indians as "happy peaceful people living in harmony with their environment" is giving way to a more realistic reading, with political dynasties, warfare, revolution and environmental disasters.

In the Pueblo world, new studies and ancient traditions suggest centralized political power of astonishing geographic scale, ruled by force. That ancient government vanished, inexplicably, about a century before the Spanish entered the region. At the same time in southern Arizona, Native American histories tell of class warfare between rulers and ruled, ending in the violent overthrow of the great Hohokam civilization.

New findings and re-analysis of older civilizations are revealing an ancient Southwest that is more human but no less exceptional than the "happy peaceful" myth. The modern world still has much to learn from Southwestern Native American peoples, and their ultimate rejection of class-structured, politically-centralized governments.

Prof. Lekson is the author of the recently published book Chaco Meridian (Altamira Press, 1999).