Overview
- A new study confirms a close genetic relationship between modern Picuris Pueblo members and the ancient inhabitants of Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon.
- The research, published on April 30, 2025, in Nature, was conducted under the oversight of the Picuris Pueblo tribe, ensuring ethical collaboration and data governance.
- The study analyzed DNA from 13 living Picuris Pueblo members, remains from the tribe’s site dating back 500–1,500 years, and ancient samples from Pueblo Bonito.
- Picuris Pueblo leaders initiated the study to address past ethical oversights and support ongoing preservation efforts for Chaco Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Researchers emphasized that the findings do not challenge other tribes' ancestral connections to Chaco Canyon, as the study did not analyze modern DNA from other Pueblo communities.