The Mystery of Chaco Canyon
Photo: National Park Service United States, Chaco Canyon Cultural Site The Mystery of Chaco Canyon 1999 Director: Anna Sofaer Today I will be discussing "The Mystery of Chaco Canyon," in my mind, one of the best documentaries available on this enigmatic site. For those not in the know, Chaco Canyon and Pueblo Bonito (meaning: "Beautiful Village") is one of the most complete and impressive sites built by the "Chacoan" culture of the larger Puebloan peoples that still exists in the U.S. today. Built starting around 850 AD and used until a 50 year drought in the twelfth century drove them away. They closed up the site by walling in the structures, clearly in hopes that they would one day return the site to its former glory. It was a site for ceremony and worship, which drew people from hundreds of miles around as is evident from the timbers used during constr...