The Mystery of Chaco Canyon

[struggle4progress]

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/mocc.html

My local PBS station just aired this fascinating interpretation of the Chaco Canyon buildings as a massive solar-lunar observatory complex stretching over many miles

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[NYC_SKP]

2. Interesting. Available in six parts on YouTube, as a preview...

If anyone likes it, they should purchase the higher quality DVD from the site in the OP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFRQfPQCic0

Support these informative documentaries with your dollars.

:patriot:

[alittlelark]

3. I've gone there many times. Many theories surround the ruins.

In my opinion the best is the trading hub /drought model.

I would highly recommend it as a very 'off the beaten path' adventure.

They do not want a lot of visitors. You must bring ALL your food, water, and habitat. Their campsites are spartan yet beautiful.

The days are HOT and the nights are COLD in the summer. In the winter it's just cold most of the time.

If you go do it for a week if you can. The closest store is over an hour away so be prepared.

The road in is a 10 or so mile nightmare of runoff ruts (intentional I think). I went 5 years ago and watched the hubcap of my Dodge Caravan spin off into the desert.... unfortunately it was the 4th hubcap. We had to backtrack to find the others. There is still one out there.

IM me if you find it.

[Warpy]

4. One thing that has long puzzled anthropologist is the absence

of signs of continuous habitation, like firepits showing long and continuous use and the detritus of living like kitchen waste and broken cook pots. In addition, most of the buildings aren't particularly habitable.

I think the observatory/ceremonial site comes closest to what it might have been.

[alittlelark]

5. I think that is what makes the trade model make sense.

It was considered sacred space... no violence allowed. The roads meander inward from all directions. The findings are from all corners of the continent.

I see it as an incredible oasis in the sea of the Americas.



It was abandoned during a massive drought (the creek is not year-round strong).

[Warpy]

7. The drought part I believe

I'm east of Chaco and we've had two tenths of an inch of rain since January 1.

To say things are dry around here is an incredible understatement.

[cayanne]

6. I was there in 92

at the summer solstice.and, I loved every minute if it.

[semillama]

8. There's been a lot of work on lunar/solar alignments at Chaco

Pretty cool stuff, and it likely served multiple functions over time, both as a sacred precinct and for trade/communal gatherings as well. People did live there, but not in the big block complexs - they've found a number of smaller room-blocks around the canyon that did serve as dwellings. Highly recommend going there - it's particularly beautiful in winter: