Branches are characterized by broad and rather distinct combinations of material culture identified within the the different culture areas. Contemporaneous ceramics from areas assigned to different branches, while sharing broad suites of traits, can often be distinguished by broad differences in finishing techniques and type of pigment used in painted decorations.

• Western Anasazi
• Central Anasazi
• Eastern (Mountain) Anasazi
• Northern Rio Grande
• Southern Rio Grande
• Jornada Mogollon
• Mogollon Highlands
• Chihuahua
• Southwest Apachean
• Greater Salado