Girl power

Would women make the world a better place?

Ever wondered what the world would be like if women had all the top jobs? It’s hard to imagine as it’s not happened. Or has it?

The Chacoans were a prehistoric society of people who inhabited New Mexico for over 2000 years. Little is known about them as, unlike Egyptians and Mayans, they didn’t put anything down in writing.

In style

But it doesn’t mean this society weren’t putting their time to good use.

Their centre was in Chaco canyon, which is filled with large, multi-story mansions known as great houses. These were planned in advance, meaning some took centuries to complete. So while they may not have been documenting their goings-on, they knew how to think ahead

and live in style!

Science

The largest of these great houses, Pueblo Bonito had 650 rooms. In room 33, scientists found a burial chamber where the highstatus members of society were laid to rest. The remains include the bodies of a 40-year-old woman, her grandson and a 45-yearold woman and her daughter.

And here comes the science bit…

Professor Douglas Kennett and his colleagues from Pennsylvania State University collected DNA from nine bodies in room 33 and found they belonged to the same maternal family.

Few clues

So in this society, power was passed from female to female – the women were in charge. But sadly, the Chacoans died out around 1130AD.

It’s been speculated that a drought contributed to their downfall. While it’s sad that they left few clues about their lives, there is a way to solve the mystery of whether the world would be a better place if women ruled – and that’s to launch a takeover bid.

It’d be nice to copy the Chacoan’s and build a few more sprawling mansions…