Fuhgoddaboudit Friday – Chaco Canyon

This post is a Fuhgoddaboudit Friday — which means the events in this post happened so long ago we almost forgot about it. But luckily we haven’t completely fuhgoddaboudit and have been able to reach back deep into the recesses of our minds and pluck out a few memories to share with you. Today’s post picks up after our last almost forgotten tale driving north thru New Mexico on our way to Chaco Culture National Historic Park…

February 21 – February 22, 2017.

It’s 5,400 BCE. Most of the Earth’s continents have human inhabitants. These people use tools. They use genetic modification of plant and animal species to make their lives easier. They study the patterns of the stars.

One star, ten times as large as our sun, has lived its life. It goes supernova. But it’s 6,500 light years from Earth. None of the sky-watching cultures down here will notice the difference for a long time.

We went to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico last winter. It’s not an easy place to visit. There are not many facilities nearby. We took the easiest entrance. The last leg was 16 miles of unpaved road. We started in as early as we could. If the campground were full, we’d have to leave and find somewhere else to stay. No problem. There were plenty of sites available.

Many southwestern tribes believe their ancestors used this place. They consider it sacred, and do not want it to be as accessible as the popular national parks. Some of the old ceremonies are still practiced here. The oral traditions surrounding Chaco are also guarded closely. It’s a place of mystery.

The canyon was at the center of a complex of great houses that were located as far away as Arizona and Colorado. The National Park, which is also a World Heritage Site, contains the remains of 13 of those great houses. All were built between 850 CE and 1150 CE. Then they were left, and the desert moved back in. Some have been excavated over the years.

The great houses were planned multi-story structures with large courtyards, hundreds of rooms, and many ceremonial kivas. Structures and doorways are aligned to recognize celestial events. A network of roads led here. The complex housed between 2,000 and 6,000 permanent residents, and served many thousands more visitors. It is a testament to the engineering and organizational skills of a very intelligent and capable group of people.

And what do we know about these people? They came from many different tribes and spoke different languages. They traded goods from as far away as central Mexico. They were part of a centuries-long transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers to city dwellers.

But, unfortunately for us, they didn’t have a tradition of writing things down. Also, widespread looting of artifacts has obscured the history of this place. So we are left with many questions.

Why do the approaching roads go straight over obstacles they could skirt around? How were the great houses managed? What kinds of ceremonies happened here? Why do some chambers look as though they were set ablaze then closed up? Why was the whole complex abandoned, and allowed to return to the desert?

What we can do is marvel at the feats of these people. And we can imagine. Imagine large tribes walking in long straight lines across the desert toward signal fires that can be seen for miles. Following the road as it climbs over obstacles. Entering courtyards full of people arguing over the prices of goods in different languages. Watching dancers in colorful costumes move to the heavy beat of drums echoing off the canyon walls. Bearing witness to inter-tribal weddings and peace ceremonies.

We can be sure these people saw the birth of the Crab Nebula in July of 1054 CE. The light from the supernova of its progenitor star had finally reached the Earth, and was easily visible to all watchers of the night sky. (Scientists are still studying the nebula today. The matter that makes up a star the size of ten suns just isn’t there. Where did it all go?) Also, Halley’s Comet, which made four appearances while Chaco was occupied, must have been observed.

Near the Peñasco Blanco great house there is a rock painting under an overhang. A hand, a crescent moon-like shape, and a star shape are painted on rock. A round shape with a long “tail” is painted on the ground below. Are these representations of the 1054 supernova and the appearances of Halley’s Comet in the years 912, 989, 1066 and 1145? We may find that missing supernova matter before we know the answer.

* All pics are click to enlarge.