WHEN EDUCATOR Jon Ghahate (Laguna/Zuni) guides tours through Chaco Culture National Historical Park, he likes to have references on hand, but he also hopes people will explore opportunities to deepen their understanding. Here are a few of his go-to sources.
The Ancient Southwest: A Guide to Archaeological Sites. For quick references in the field, Ghahate turns to Gregory McNamee and Larry Lindahl’s 2015 book, which pairs beautiful photos with concise guides to 50 sites. “I’ve had to buy several copies because I use them so much,” Ghahate says.
The Chaco Handbook: An Encyclopedic Guide. The 2012 reference by R. Gwinn Vivian and Bruce Hilpert provides alphabetized entries, illustrations, and maps covering important places, archaeological and ethnographic terms, and individuals.
The Mystery of Chaco Canyon. The 1999 documentary, narrated by Robert Redford, illuminates some of the celestial ties to the great houses and our basic understanding of the mysteries at Chaco. The film highlights some of director Anna Sofaer’s work on solar and lunar alignments at buildings. “It’s really interesting,” Ghahate says, “especially for a first-time visitor.” Follow up by reading Sofaer’s book Chaco Astronomy: An Ancient American Cosmology.
The Discovery of Mankind: Atlantic Encounters in the Age of Columbus and Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World. These books provide a better understanding of societies in the Americas before 1492, including foodways, economies, and systems of self-governance.
Pueblos of the Rio Grande: A Visitor’s Guide and Surviving Columbus. Daniel Gibson’s 2001 book and the 1992 New Mexico PBS documentary close some of the gaps between Chaco and now, covering what the Spanish found when they arrived and how to tie those societies to contemporary pueblos. “We have guests from all around the world who come to Acoma, to Taos, and that’s the legacy of the people who resided at Chaco,” Ghahate says.
Read more: Explore Chaco Canyon's ancient influence across the Southwest.