Chaco Canyon is a shallow, ten-mile canyon situated in the northwest corner of New Mexico. Seventy miles from the nearest town and accessible only by washboard dirt roads, it's remote by today's standards. The canyon itself has been carved from ancient sea beds by centuries of erosion. Millions of years ... More »

Chaco Canyon is a shallow, ten-mile canyon situated in the northwest corner of New Mexico. Seventy miles from the nearest town and accessible only by washboard dirt roads, it's remote by today's standards. The canyon itself has been carved from ancient sea beds by centuries of erosion. Millions of years of history reveal themselves in the layers of rock and the fossils embedded therein. Chaco Canyon, among other things, continues to be of great interest to those who study ancient cultures, including archeoastronomers. Evidence suggests that the Chacoans were expert skywatchers, with a clear knowledge of the cyclic and seasonal patterns of the sun, moon, and stars Join the Exploratorium in this on-line investigation about this fascinating, ancient site. Less «