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Chaco Culture National Historical Parkphoto of Chetro Ketl Pueblo
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Chaco Culture National Historical Park
The Center of a Culture
Photo of Pueblo Bonito taken from the cliff top

Pueblo Bonito

From AD 850 to 1250, Chaco was a hub of ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area--unlike anything before or since.  Chaco is remarkable for its multi-storied public buildings, ceremonial buildings, and distinctive architecture.  These structures required considerable planning, designing, organizing of labor, and engineering to construct.  The Chacoan people combined many elements: pre-planned architectural designs, astronomical alignments, geometry, landscaping, and engineering to create an ancient urban center of spectacular public architecture--one that still awes and inspires us a thousand years later.

photo of cat-faced spider  

Did You Know?
Chaco harbors many insects, moths, spiders, and butterflies in the summer months. One of these known as the cat-faced spider (Araneus illudatus) can be seen hanging in doorways and archeological sites.

Last Updated: April 20, 2009 at 16:37 EST