Visited: April 2024
Nearby town: Farmington, NM
Located in the northwestern corner of New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park protects and preserves an amazing complex of Ancrestral Pueblan ruins.
This site, situated in Chaco Canyon, is one of the most important pre-Columbian historical areas in the United States. It was occupied between 900 and 1150 AD. Fifteen major complexes are located here. They were made from sandstone blocks and timber hauled from a long distance. When they were built, they were the largest buildings in North America until the 1800s.
This NPS unit is very remote. Consult the website to get directions. The recommended way to visit is to approach from the north. Farmington is the closest major city. About 3 miles east of the small village of Nageezi, turn off the US highway to County Road 7900. Follow the signs. The road is paved for about 5 miles, but the remaining 16 miles are unpaved and might be impassable during inclement weather.
We arrived early in the morning, and had the ruins mostly to ourselves. The first stop was Hungo Pavi. Hungo Pavi was a great house that served as a public building with small resident populations. The complex also hosted pilgrims who came to Chaco Canyon to attend religious ceremonies, trading events, and public gatherings. At its greatest extent, Hungo Pavi had 72 rooms, and some structures reached four stories in height.
these outer walls were very impressive
Next up is the largest complex in the canyon, Pueblo Bonito. It's covers almost 2 acres and has 650 rooms. Here you will find the Great Kiva. Kivas are large circular rooms (usually below the ground level) that were used for spiritual ceremonies, places of worship, and political meetings. They were of great significance in Ancestral Pueblan life and culture. Along with the Great Kiva, there are over 30 kivas in Pueblo Bonito. Nearby to Pueblo Bonito is the Chetro Ketl complex.
Chetro Ketl complex
The Great Kiva.
Kivas were usually covered with logs, brush, and earth to form a flat roof flush with the ground surface.
When I was a child, I wanted to be an archaeologist when I grew up.
I wouldn't have made a very good one, I would have had to crawl through lots of ancient passageways (the ancients made them so small) 😁 I barely fit in these things. 😀
Upon discovery, archaeologists placed these large beams to help prop up the outer walls
petroglyphs on the cliff walls
Tara at the doorway
the Great Kiva
We then took a relatively short hike up to the butte for a great view overlooking Pueblo Bonito and the canyon. The trail passes by more ruins, the Pueblo del Arroyo and the Kin Kletso ("Yellow House"). It's about a mile-hike to the overlook.
it's a bit of a scramble up and down the butte...just take it slow, its not too bad.
Pueblo del Arroyo ruins
overlook at Pueblo Bonito complex. It has a distinct crescent shape.
Kin Kletso ruins
this prominent peak on the right is Fajada Butte (6,623 ft)
Fajada Butte
Kin Kletso
Kin Kletso. This medium-sized complex had 55 rooms.
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hike up through this crevice to get to the top of the butte
The great houses in Chaco Canyon were abandoned in approximately 1200 AD. It is not entirely known why the Ancestral Pueblans left this area, but it was likely due to a period of sustained drought.
This site was one of the coolest historical sites we have been to. Well worth a visit.
For more info: https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm
