New Mexico Outdoor 

Roughing It In Luxury-Abiquiu, New Mexico 505.901.7321

Chaco Canyon

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Chaco Canyon is extremely remote, 150 miles distant from NMO and practically anything else! The drive there, however, is full of amazing landscapes ..and thru the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. Chaco canyon is the remains of what was a thriving community built almost 1,000 years ago..by the Anasazi, ancestors of today’s Pueblo peoples. Chaco and Bandelier, both in New Mexico and well preserved by the National Park Service. These are not really hikes..but walks thru ancient history. On the approach, and for dozens of miles..Fajada Butte..holds spiritual significance to those ancient Anasazi’s (in Navajo..‘dreaded enemy’) and the Native peoples of today: Photobucket The community once bustled with activity. Irrigation systems were build, fields were leveled and roads layed out in and around Chaco. Now, only remains of several hundred stone walled buildings. Among them and still partially standing today are the ruins of 9 multi story dwellings known as the “Great Houses of Chaco”: Photobucket Photobucket Pueblo Bonito is one of the 9 “Great Houses, and was divided into more than 650 rooms. Great Houses are noted for their numerous circular ceremonial chambers called Kivas: Photobucket Photobucket The massive sizes and planning of “The Great Houses” were unprecedented and unequaled in the contemporary Anasazi world. The elaborate design and size of the structures suggest a very prosperous, almost urban community with a resident population in the thousands: Photobucket Photobucket We designed our own steps (5 different entrances) after those at Chaco..by showing this picture to our builder: Photobucket Pueblo Bonito and the other Great Houses in the canyon are constructed from blocks of sandstone, carefully coursed (horizontally aligned) in beautiful patterns: Photobucket These masonry patterns are a well known feature of Chacoan architecture: Photobucket Then…in the 1100’s AD …and after having inhabited this canyon for about 300 years..they suddenly ..and without explanation ..disappeared: Photobucket Leaving ..we’re awed again by Fajada Butte, standing witness to our evacuation as well as that of the Anasazi’s about 900 years ago! Photobucket

After they disappeared…they diverged into many different tribes of Pueblo Indians who still thrive today! They consider Chaco Canyon a sacred place. A place that speaks today of ancestry, survival, spirituality, and connections. Dan

 

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