Page 180 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

178  THE FOUR C ORNERS THE FOUR C ORNERS  179

e Chaco Culture National Pueblo Alto was built VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Pueblo Alto
Historical Park atop the mesa at the Practical Information
junction of several
ancient Chacoan
Chaco Canyon is one of the most impressive cultural sites in the roads. Reaching the Road map 3D. 25 miles (40 km)
S.E. of Nageezi off US 550.
Southwest, reflecting the sophistication of the Ancestral Puebloan site requires a two- n Chaco Culture Visitor Center
civilization that existed here. With its six “great houses” (pueblos hour hike, but the (505) 786-7014. Open 8am–5pm
daily. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving,
containing hundreds of rooms) and many lesser sites, the canyon views over the canyon Dec 25. & 7 8
was once the political, religious, and cultural center for settlements are well worth it. ∑ nps.gov/chcu
that covered much of the Four Corners. At its peak during the
11th century, Chaco was one of the most impressive pre- Architectural Detail
Columbian cities in North America. Des pite the site’s size, it is Chaco’s skilled builders had
thought that Chaco’s population was small because the land could only stone tools to work
not have supported a larger community. Archaeologists believe with to create this finely
that the city was mainly used as a ceremonial gathering place, with wrought stonework.
a year-round population of less than 3,000. Probably the social
elite, the inhabitants supported themselves largely by trading.

Early Astronomers at Fajada Butte
Measurement of time was vital to the Chacoans
for crop planting and the timing of ceremonies.
A spiral petroglyph, carved on Fajada Butte, is
designed to indicate the changing seasons
through the shadows it casts on the rock.

Exploring Chaco Key
The site is accessed via a 13-mile Highway
(21-km) dirt road that is affected Unpaved road
Pueblo Bonito by flash floods in wet weather. Hiking route
Pueblo Bonito is an example of a Drivers can follow the paved Park boundary
loop road that passes several
“great house.” Begun around AD 850, of Chaco’s highlights. There is
it was built in stages over the course of parking at all major sites. From
300 years. This reconstruction shows how it the visitor center, a trail leads to
might have looked, with its D-shaped four-story Una Vida and the petroglyphs.
structure that contained more than 600 rooms.

Kin Kletso
Pueblo Alto
KEY
Chetro Ketl Chetro Ketl
A short trail from Pueblo 1 The many kivas here were Pueblo del
Bonito leads to another probably used by visitors arriving for Arroyo Una Vida
great house, Chetro Ketl. religious ceremonies.
Almost as large as Pueblo Pueblo Bonito
Bonito, at 3 acres (1.2 ha), 2 This great house was four Wijiji
Chetro Ketl has more than stories high.
500 rooms. The masonry 3 Hundreds of rooms within Casa Rinconada
used to build the later Casa Rinconada Pueblo Bonito show little sign of use
portions of this structure Also known as a great kiva, Casa Rinconada and are thought to have been kept
is among the most is the largest religious chamber at Chaco, for storage or for guests arriving to 0 km 2 Chaco Canyon
sophisticated found in any measuring 62 ft (19 m) in diameter. It was take part in ceremonial events. 0 miles 2
Ancestral Puebloan site. used for spiritual gatherings.
For hotels and restaurants see p241 and pp256–7 For keys to symbols see back flap The mesas of Monument Valley, with the Left Mitten in the foreground

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm