Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Nageezi, New Mexico, USA

The massive buildings of the Ancestral Puebloan people still testify to the organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center: 1808 County Road 7950, Nageezi, NM 87037

The Chaco canyon was central to thousands of people between 850 and 1250 A.D

To reach there, I had to drive 19 miles of unpaved road at less than 20 miles per hour.

Drive to the first site.

Drive to the next site, Pueblo Bonito, which is the main site.

This is a huge, huge place, and it was the major center from 850 to 1150. Why did I not know such a giant ancient struct existed in the US? 

This is one corner of the structure, with a panoramic view from left to right.

Out from the area with a lot of rooms to an open area.  The panoramic view from left to right.

Looking back at the place I walk out from.

Looking forward again

A panoramic view from left to right.

Another panoramic view from left to right

The circle structure is called Kiva, and it was used for community gatherings.  You can see the sitting area around the Kiva at the bottom.  There are many Kivas in the area.

Another panoramic view of the place.

A panoramic view of a giant kiva, left to right.

The adjacent area is an open field—the view from left to right.

A closer view of some of the structures.

Back to the parking lot for the next site.

and drive to the next site.

The next site is Pueblo Del Arroyo.  It is much smaller site than Pueblo Bonito.

Then a short drive to the next site, which is Casa Rinconada.  This site has a giant kiva.

Smaller structures are scattered around.

A small theater?

The big kiva

This ancient structure reminds me of Machu Pichu in Peru.  It is not as beautiful as Machu Pichu nor well preserved, but the scale is equally impressive.