The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were a Native American culture that thrived in the southwestern United States, particularly in areas like present-day New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. They are known for their impressive cliff dwellings and multi-story stone buildings, which were often constructed in canyons and on mesas. Their society flourished from around 100 AD to 1300 AD, with a focus on agriculture, pottery, and trade. Ancestral Puebloans developed complex social structures and were skilled in farming, utilizing irrigation techniques to grow crops such as corn, beans, and squash. They also created intricate pottery and woven textiles, which played important roles in their daily life and trade. By the late 13th century, many Ancestral Puebloan communities began to migrate to other areas, leading to the development of new cultures in the region.