Four Corners, February 2004 - page 3

Let's go to Chaco!

Chaco's out in the middle of nowhere - more like we are used to. Chaco was like the Vatican City of the Anasazi culture. And they built some rather impressive towns here, with many, many rooms, and many kivas. Interesting...

And some very impressive stonework.

The villages are called Great Houses, and there are about 8 along the base of an escarpment in this valley.

We took a short hike up to a Greathouse on top of the Mesa (Casa Alta). The hike gives a great view of the Great Houses in the canyon below, so that the structure shows clearly.

Here's some nice stonework at Casa Alta. They have several different styles of stonework, and date construction based on the styles.

Paths were built out from Chaco in the cardinal directions. In some places, this involved climbing straight up over a substantial cliff. In this place, the stairs are called the Jackson Stairs. They are very, very steep, and basically no longer usable.

And Ms. Scotter was reluctant to descend them...

The way back allowed us another great view of the Great House.