Visiting Chaco Canyon (part1)

Imagine a large, open, arid land where you can see far, far away. You are driving for a few miles in this desert under a deep blue sky. Few disperse habitations appear with wooden houses close by. These are “Hogan”, the primary traditional home of the Navajo people.

After a long meander down a dirt road you arrive at another vast open space, you are in the Chaco Wash in the San Juan Basin.Stop before going to the visitor center to embrace this unique landscape, to give thanks to the ancient for welcoming you in this sacred place. Enter the place with an open spirit and open heart. Promise to respect this land, its history, its teachings and its wisdom. Honor and give thanks to the four directions; the East, North, West and South.

When continuing down the road you’ll see Fajada Butte, where the Sun Dagger was discovered by Anna Sofaer in 1977. Fajada means ‘belt’ or ‘band’ in Spanish. This amazing massive butte was named ‘Fajada’ by the first Spaniards because of its layer of carbonaceous shale and thin coal beds, which design a black belt around this monument.

Chaco canyon is not just a site…it is an immense area, a region, where pueblos (villages) and ceremonial sites are linked together by surprisingly long and wide roads.