Researchers from the Archaeological Science Quarterly have identified a massive 1,500-mile trade network, dubbed the 'Turquoise and Tapestry' Road, connecting the Ancestral Puebloans of the American Southwest with the Toltec Empire of Central Mexico. The discovery was made through the genomic analysis of macaw feathers and chemical fingerprinting of turquoise ornaments found in Chaco Canyon.
The study reveals that the exchange of high-status goods was far more frequent and organized than previously believed, involving specialized trade caravans that crossed treacherous desert terrains. This research provides a new understanding of how luxury goods fueled political prestige and social hierarchy across the pre-colonial North American continent during the 9th through 12th centuries.