Chaco Culture World Heritage Site

Chaco Canyon was an ancestral Pueblo cultural center from c. 900 AD to 1130 AD.
There are about 30 ancient masonry buildings, which used techniques that were unique for
the time to construct enormous structures of multiple stories containing hundreds of rooms.
A series of well-engineered roadways lead to Chaco Canyon from as far as 50 miles away
(over 400 miles of roads from outlying resource areas and communities). Chaco was
a center of culture, trade, and ceremonial life for over 300 years, but it was finally
abandoned due to a 50 year drought that began in 1130 AD. The 15 major
complexes at Chaco Canyon remained as the largest buildings in
North America until the 19th century. It is located in the
Four Corners region of New Mexico (upper NW).

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Fajada Butte 5029

Fajada Butte was very important to the ceremonial life of the Chaco people.
They constructed a 100 meter high, 230 meter long ramp to facilitate access to the butte,
and there is evidence of astronomically important petroglyphs and cliff dwellings on its slopes.

Stone Hogan 5025

note the size of the brush nearby
This small hogan is about 4 feet tall

Stone Hogan 5026

these small structures were
probably used for food storage

Una Vida 5043

One of the three earliest Great Houses,
Una Vida is near the visitor center.

Una Vida 5050

Construction started here about 900 AD
the building had two stories and 124 rooms

Una Vida 5051

Una Vida 5074

Petroglyphs X9591

on the cliff face above Una Vida

Hungo Pavi 5082

Hungo Pavi 5089

Chetro Ketl 5127

built beginning in 1020 AD, Chetro Ketl had 450-550 rooms and 16 kivas

Chetro Ketl 5130

Chetro Ketl 5131

Chetro Ketl 5133

Chetro Ketl 5144

Chetro Ketl 5139

part of the small kiva complex around Chetro Ketl

Chetro Ketl Kiva 5137

Chetro Ketl X9599

Chetro Ketl X9600

Chetro Ketl X9601

Chetro Ketl X9602

Chetro Ketl X9605

Chetro Ketl Window_5149

Chetro Ketl 5146

Chetro Ketl 5152

Chetro Ketl 5156

Chetro Ketl X9613

Chetro Ketl X9614

Petroglyph X9616

some of the petroglyphs on the rock wall behind and between Chetro Ketl and Pueblo Bonito

Petroglyphs X9625

Petroglyph X9630

Pueblo Bonito 5098

covering almost two acres, and containing over 650 rooms,
Pueblo Bonito is the most-studied of the Chacoan Great Houses.
There are more than 40 kivas surrounding this site (images below).

Pueblo Bonito 5120

Pueblo Bonito X9634

Pueblo Bonito X9636

Pueblo Bonito 5101

Pueblo Bonito X9641

Pueblo Bonito 5107

this shot was taken at a steep rearward
angle to show the construction of the walls
and the beams that still remain (right wall)

Pueblo Bonito 5103

Pueblo Bonito 5104

Pueblo Bonito X9639

Pueblo Bonito 5114

Pueblo Bonito X9649

Pueblo Bonito X9648

Pueblo Bonito Kiva 5112

Pueblo Bonito X9651

Pueblo Bonito 5109

Pueblo del Arroyo 5181

built between 1050 and the early 12th C., Pueblo del Arroyo is
located near Pueblo Bonito. Built in stages over a relatively
short time, it had about 280 rooms and over 20 kivas.

Pueblo del Arroyo 5182

Pueblo del Arroyo 5186

Pueblo del Arroyo 5191

Pueblo del Arroyo 5195

Pueblo del Arroyo 5200

Pueblo del Arroyo 5206

Pueblo del Arroyo 5208

Pueblo del Arroyo 5211

Pueblo del Arroyo X9633

Pueblo del Arroyo 5214

Pueblo del Arroyo 5217

Pueblo del Arroyo 5221

Casa Rinconada 5223

Casa Rinconada is on the south side of the canyon, across Chaco Wash.
Relatively isolated from the other sites, it has an enormous Great Kiva. The
trail leading to the Kiva passes several residential areas (images below).