The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that inhabited the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The Four Corners region is where the present-day states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. The Ancestral Puebloans are best known for their impressive cliff dwellings and complex societies that thrived in the area from approximately 200 to 1300 CE.

Key aspects of the Ancestral Puebloan culture include:

1. Architecture: The Ancestral Puebloans are renowned for their elaborate cliff dwellings, such as those found in Mesa Verde (Colorado), Chaco Canyon (New Mexico), and Canyon de Chelly (Arizona). These multi-story structures were often built into the natural alcoves of cliffs and featured intricate masonry.
2. Agriculture: The Ancestral Puebloans were skilled farmers who cultivated maize (corn), beans, and squash. They developed sophisticated irrigation systems to support their agricultural practices in the arid desert environment.
3. Social Structure: Ancestral Puebloan society was organized into communities with complex social structures. They lived in multistory villages and had a hierarchical system with leaders or chiefs overseeing community affairs.
4. Ceramics and Pottery: The Ancestral Puebloans were known for their distinctive pottery, often decorated with intricate geometric designs. They used specialized techniques such as coil and slab construction to create their pottery.
5. Trade and Exchange: The Ancestral Puebloans engaged in trade networks with neighboring cultures, exchanging goods such as turquoise, shells, and pottery. This facilitated cultural exchange and contributed to the development of their society.
6. Religion and Spirituality: The Ancestral Puebloans had a rich spiritual life and practiced various religious ceremonies. Kivas, underground ceremonial chambers, were central to their religious practices. Many of their petroglyphs and pictographs depict religious symbols and stories.

Around 1300 CE, the Ancestral Puebloans began to abandon their cliff dwellings and migrate to other regions. The reasons for this migration are complex and may include environmental changes, resource depletion, social factors, and conflict. Today, their descendants include Pueblo tribes in New Mexico and Arizona, such as the Hopi, Zuni, and Taos Pueblos.