"In the Northwest corner of New Mexico is a silent, haunting place. It seems to slowly appear out of the stunning nothingness that surrounds it, ruins of an ancient, vanished people, a people who lived in what was, in their time, the pinnacle of civilization. In this canyon one can feel the air, smell the smells, and see the beauty that these ancient people once did. Hanging in the air just out of reach is the mystery behind why a people chose to settle in this barren land."

 

 

 

Chaco Canyon is a place of mystery and beauty. So much history and art can be found in this ancient civilization. There are so many things we can still learn about this amazing place.

 

There are petroglyphs carved into the canyon walls that suggest the Anasazi were tracking the movements of the sun and moon. Many other things to suggest a complex civilization once thrived in Chaco Canyon. Little is known about what this place must have been like. Some theories are logical, some wild, most are argued and can be controversial.



So what is known about the history of Chaco Canyon and its' Inhabitants? Archeologists suggest that Chaco was first an occasional hunting ground for nomadic tribes from the North. There they built stone storage pits to cache food, keeping it cool, dry, and safe, while they hunted big game in the surrounding country.

 

The "Anasazi" were next people to occupy Chaco Canyon. They could have been a small band of the northern tribes that decided to stay in their southern hunting grounds for good. Another theory is that a different tribe moved into Chaco Canyon, building a large ancient city there. Either way, they became known as the Anasazi. Anasazi is a Ute word, also adopted by the Navajo, which means "Ancient Ones" or "Enemy Ancestors". They were a very early pueblo tribe, building Kivas (Kivas were a place of worship), stone dwellings, and later these same people took to building into canyon walls in Mesa Verde.

 

As early as the 10th century there is evidence that the Chacoan were making beads out of Mexican Turquoise. It seems that they traded with tribes in what is now Mexico, Arizona, and California, and inexplicably even some European explorers. Through the next thousand years this civilization grew stronger, larger, and more complex. They built roads, had a complex irrigation system, and were quite knowledgeable about astronomy.

 

By the 12th century most of the Anasazi dwellings were sealed up and the settlement was abandoned. This remains a mystery, as there is almost no solid evidence explaining why Chaco Canyon was abandoned. Some theories are entertaining, full of magic, cannibalism, and civil war. What is known is, the Anasazi did not plan well for waste management in their growing pueblo. They also used up much of the near by lumber, causing ecological changes. These ecological changes resulted in game animals growing scarce, and farming became difficult. On top of those factors, an extreme drought hit the country in the mid 11th century, which could have lasted up to 50 years. This would have lead many of the inhabitants to leave Chaco Canyon in search of fertile land and plentiful hunting. Some people believe that the Anasazi went and joined other tribes but nothing has been proven.

 

These are just some ideas formed from the few artifacts and structures left intact in Chaco Canyon. We may never know all about the people who once made Chaco Canyon their home, but preserving what is left will give us a better chance of finding answers.

 

​Chaco Canyon today is a very beautiful place, where one can peek though the mist of time to the lives that once made this place home.

 

Many locals remember hiking in and around Chaco in the 70's and finding pot shards and other artifacts left behind in the exodus of its previous inhabitants. Unfortunately many treasure hunters took advantage of this and started to collect and sell these ancient pieces of art.

 

This scavenging led to Native American groups as well as federal land management getting involved in preserving Chaco Canyon's treasures and history. While there is still controversy over Chaco, it is visited by 1000's of people every year. Tours and other information about visiting Chaco Canyon are available at the Visitors Center. Chaco Canyon Visitor Information (505) 786-7014 ext. 221

 

It is said that if we do not learn from history we will repeat it, this is the importance of Chaco Canyon and other sites like it all across the world. These are places where we can observe a bit of an ancient time and learn from its people’s failure and success, in hopes of making the world around us a happier and more peaceful place.