Final answer:
The Ancient Puebloans abandoned their New Mexico villages around 1,300 AD due to a variety of factors including a prolonged Great Drought, societal insulation, resource scarcity, new populations moving in, and religious turmoil. They likely migrated south to join other Puebloan cultures such as the Hopi and Zuni, rather than disappearing altogether. Sites like Mesa Verde were left due to concurrent environmental and social pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors Leading to Ancient Puebloan Village Abandonment
The abandonment of large villages in New Mexico around 1,300 AD by the Ancient Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, was likely due to a multitude of factors. The region experienced significant climatic changes, such as the Great Drought that lasted 300 years. This drought resulted in a more insular Anasazi society, with increased reliance on intensive agriculture and new irrigation techniques.
Archaeological evidence shows that new populations were moving into the area, creating additional stress on the existing communities. Religious turmoil is also indicated by the destruction found in kiva and ceremonial structures - fires were set, and windows and doors were boarded up. Ultimately, evidence suggests that rather than vanishing, the Anasazi migrated south and integrated with groups forming modern Pueblo cultures like the Hopi and Zuni, confirmed by archaeological findings.
Meanwhile, at sites like Mesa Verde, lack of resources, prevalent droughts, and potential violence might have been contributing factors to the abandonment of the iconic cliff dwellings. These enduring structures remain as a testament to the adaptability and ingenuity of the Ancestral Puebloans despite environmental and social challenges.