Table 6. Estimated transport time and labor efforts for transport of maize to the canyon by seasonal residents living 6 months in the Chuskas and 6 months in Chaco Canyon based on varying population sizes, carrying capacities, and travel times.

In this case, the amount of required maize is halved to represent only seasonal occupation within the canyon. Round trip lengths are based on a distance of 85 km between Chaco Canyon and the Chuska Mountains. Six-day trips were suggested by Benson [33] based on traveling 26.67 km/day, while 9.5 and 27 days—assuming a speed of 18 km/day and 6.34 km/day respectively—were derived from travel times determined by Malville [137] and reported by Windes and McKenna ([142] p136). Drennan [132] used loads of 20 and 50 kilograms in his studies of long distance transport, both of which are paired with Benson’s assertion that the trip could be made in six days. The second two weight estimates derive from Malville [131], as reported in Windes and McKenna ([142] p136) and are directly linked to the trip lengths determined in the first column. Number of trips and travel days are rounded based on the completion of an entire trip.

Round Trip to Chaco (days)	Weight Carried per Person per Trip (kg)	Trips by 100% of Chaco’s Population to Import Maize for 6 Months
6	20	3.5 (21 days)
6	50	1.5 (9 days)
9.5	50	1.5 (14 days)
27	100	0.5 (14 days)