Mysteries of Chaco Canyon

Chaco Canyon

"The Mysteries of Chaco Canyon," narrated by Robert Redford, explores the mysteries surrounding the Pueblo site at Chaco Canyon. The film begins with a brief narration about how the original migration of people to the area of Chaco Canyon was for them to seek a special place to be the "center of our world." Therefore, there is deep spiritual and metaphysical significance in the actual physical, geographical location of the buildings. This is in spite of the fact that the area is unsheltered from the elements, which deliver temperature and weather extremes that can be inhospitable to life. It took 250 years to complete the massive construction project, and to build in architectural elements that would serve as an astronomical indicator such as the shaft of light that appears only at certain times a year. Four themes the film covers include the difference between archaeological and oral traditions; the migration of people originally from the Bering Strait to the Southwest; the development of a sophisticated calendar system and methods of astronomical observance; and the importance of time/capturing order of heavens (integrating heaven and earth as center place).

The difference between archaeological evidence and oral traditions is explored in the film, which interviews native peoples from the area as well as archaeologists. In the film, the archaeologists welcome input from the local people and vice-versa. This enables the creation of a dialogue between archaeological science and indigenous wisdom. Often one point-of-view fills in the blanks for the other.

The film does not focus on population migration, but migration is implied throughout. At the beginning of the film, the migration of people from the Bering Strait to the American southwest is discussed. The migration to and from the Mesoamerican regions is also discussed, as is the eventual migration of the original Pueblo from the Chaco canyon area.

One of the great wonders of the Chaco complex is the development of an astronomical system of observance through the construction of the buildings. Individual buildings will be aligned with the sun and moon, but more impressively, the entire complex, other buildings that are many miles away, and the road networks are also aligned with the sun and moon.

The fourth theme explored in the film is the concept of the center place. The people who built Chaco Canyon were looking for the place that would be the center of their world. Moreover, there is a symbolic center of the world as the place that is between heaven and earth.

These four themes relate to the course materials and lecture. For example, the lecture discusses the differences between oral traditions and archaeology. The former offers nuanced narratives that enhance the latter. Likewise, the lecture and readings from the class address the patterns of population migration from the earliest times of settlement in North America and throughout history.