Ancestors and the sun: astronomy, architecture and culture at Chaco Canyon

Multiple villages from the AD 700-850 period assessed using Dolores Project records had consistent SSE orientations.

“We have assessed multiple villages from this period using the records of the Dolores Project, and again found consistent SSE orientations.”

A majority of structures in the two villages Shabik'eschee and 29SJ 423 were front facing to between 151° and 161°.

“We found that a majority of the structures in the two villages were front facing to between 151 • and 161 • .”

Pueblo Bonito is the most precisely and accurately aligned among the intra-site and inter-site cardinal alignments.

“Among these intra-site and inter-site cardinal alignments, we have found that Pueblo Bonito is the most precisely and accurately aligned.”

One 'Chaco halo' Great House, Bis sa'ani, incorporates all three traditions.

“One 'Chaco halo' Great House, Bis sa'ani, incorporates all three traditions.”

None of the putative alignments to the sun or moon has been visually or photographically confirmed.

“None of the putative alignments to the sun or moon has been visually or photographically confirmed.”

There is no support in the archaeological record for any importance attached to the orientation of the back walls of room blocks of unit pueblos or Great Houses.

“We find no support in the archaeological record for any importance attached to the orientation of the back walls of room blocks of unit pueblos or Great Houses.”

No common terrestrial horizon features are observable across the wide area where the SSE tradition is evident.

“Similarly, no common terrestrial horizon features are observable across the wide area where the tradition is evident.”

By the time large-scale construction ended at Chaco Canyon (~AD 1140), six of the 25 structures in the sample included more-or-less accurate NS and/or EW alignments.

“As shown in Table 1, by the time large-scale construction ended at Chaco Canyon (∼ AD 1140) six of the 25 structures in our sample included more-or-less accurate NS and/or EW alignments.”

Three architectural traditions with astronomical associations have been identified among the Great Houses and Great Kivas of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.

“Three architectural traditions with astronomical associations have been identified among the 'Great Houses' and 'Great Kivas' of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.”

The claimed back-wall alignments are associated with a small subset of SSE-facing structures from the period.

“In addition, the claimed back-wall alignments are associated with a small subset of SSE-facing structures from the period.”

Theodolite survey and photography demonstrate that proposed visual equinox alignments at Pueblo Bonito do not function owing to the elevation of the horizons.

“Notwithstanding, theodolite survey and photography demonstrate that proposed visual equinox alignments at Pueblo Bonito (Farmer 2003;Sofaer 1997) do not function owing to the elevation of the horizons (Munro & Malville 2009).”

• cites Farmer 2003Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Sofaer 1997Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Munro & Malville 2009Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Application of Student's t-test to Sofaer's five claimed back-wall lunar standstill alignments and her claimed June Solstice alignment at Aztec indicates that five of the six are rejected at the 95% confidence level.

“Application of Student's t-test to assess Sofaer's (2007) five claimed back-wall lunar standstill alignments, as well as her claimed June Solstice alignment at Aztec, indicates that five of the six are rejected at the 95% confidence level.”

• cites Sofaer (2007)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

A majority of the 24 Chacoan Great Houses and one Great Kiva studied conform to one or more of three astronomically-linked traditions.

“Using new field studies and analyses of previously published site plans we find that a majority of these structures conform to one or more of three astronomicallylinked traditions.”

New construction at workable calendrical stations is a consistent feature among Great Houses built in Chaco after AD 1100.

“We have subsequently confirmed that new construction at workable calendrical stations is a consistent feature among Great Houses built in Chaco after AD 1100.”

All of the studied Great Houses or Great Kivas built between the 10th and early 12th centuries within Chaco Canyon and the Totah save three manifest one or more of these traditions.

“We note with particular interest the remarkable consistency of the three traditions; all of the studied Great Houses or Great Kivas built between the 10th and early 12th centuries within Chaco Canyon and the Totah save three manifest one or more of these traditions.”

Among the five new Great Houses built in the Totah region, four are clearly associated with the SSE orientation tradition.

“In contrast, among the five new Great Houses built in the Totah region, four are clearly associated with the SSE orientation tradition.”

The 25° offset is remarkably similar to the mean offset from cardinal south for a majority of the SSE structures.

“The 25 • offset is remarkably similar to the mean offset from cardinal south for a majority of the SSE structures.”

A majority of the Great Houses built before AD 1000 at and near Chaco are oriented to the SSE.

“A majority of the Great Houses built before AD 1000 at and near to Chaco are oriented to the SSE.”

Solstice sunrise or sunset markers are observable from all of the 'new' low-lying in-canyon Great Houses from the period after AD 1100.

“Solstice sunrise or sunset markers are observable from all of the 'new' low-lying in-canyon Great Houses from this period.”

The Snake Clan migration myth reported by A.M. Stephen to Mindeleff explicitly describes the use of a staff to enable stellar navigation to the southeast during migration.

“This tradition explicitly describes the use of a staff to enable stellar navigation to the southeast during migration.”

• cites Mindeleff (1891: 18)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

These findings provide support for Van Dyke's hypothesis that construction during this period was intended to reinvigorate a faltering system.

“These findings provide support for Van Dyke's hypothesis that construction during this period was intended to reinvigorate a faltering system.”

• cites Van Dyke (2008)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Through use of these locations for public ceremonies, the Chacoan elite could demonstrate astronomical knowledge and ritual power.

“Through use of these locations for public ceremonies, the Chacoan elite could demonstrate astronomical knowledge and ritual power.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The Chacoan elite used the solstice calendrical stations for public ceremonies.

The associations between back-wall alignments and celestial events are coincidental, a classic selection effect.

“We suggest that the associations are coincidental; a classic selection effect (Malville & Munro 2009).”

• cites Malville & Munro 2009Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Ethnographic material supports the proposal that the SSE orientation is probably linked to migration traditions and ancestor veneration.

“We present ethnographic material supporting our previous proposal that the SSE orientation is probably linked to migration traditions and ancestor veneration.”

These sites would have offered public demonstrations of the astronomical knowledge, predictive power, and legitimacy of the Chacoan elite.

“These sites would have offered public demonstrations of the astronomical knowledge, predictive power, and legitimacy of the Chacoan elite.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The Chacoan elite used the solstice calendrical stations for public ceremonies.

The SSE tradition interpretation is more consistent with the body of evidence than previous hypotheses.

“While additional research is needed to fully justify this idea, we suggest that it is more consistent with the body of evidence than previous hypotheses.”

The identification of solstice horizon markers at multiple Great Houses from the period after AD 1100 supports the idea that these structures were deliberately designed as public statements of astronomical knowledge and ritual power.

“The identification of solstice horizon markers at multiple Great Houses from the period after AD 1100 supports the idea that these structures were deliberately designed as public statements of astronomical knowledge and ritual power.”

Multiple pieces of evidence suggest that changes in dominance among the groups did not equate to absolute social schism.

“Notwithstanding, multiple pieces of evidence suggest that changes in dominance among the groups did not equate to absolute social schism.”

The SSE tradition is interpreted as commemorative of migration mythology, an implicit form of ancestor veneration.

“We interpret the SSE tradition as commemorative of migration mythology, an implicit form of ancestor veneration.”

The association of Chacoan monumental architecture with visual astronomy in the late 11th and early 12th centuries may have been intended to increase Chaco's attractiveness as a pilgrimage destination.

“Of greatest interest, the association of Chacoan monumental architecture with visual astronomy in the late 11th and early 12th centuries may have been intended to increase Chaco's attractiveness as a pilgrimage destination.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Chaco was a pilgrimage destination.

All three of the identified astronomically associated traditions are plausibly visual in origin.

“It is notable that all three of the identified astronomically associated traditions are plausibly visual in origin.”

The traditions continued to coexist in each region in spite of apparent changes in social dominance over time.

“The traditions continued to coexist in each region in spite of apparent changes in social dominance over time.”

The notable change in dominance from SSE orientation to a combination of cardinal NS/EW alignments and solstice calendrical station locations during the late 11th and early 12th centuries suggests the likelihood of social schism or fragmentation.

“The notable change in dominance from SSE orientation to a combination of cardinal NS/EW alignments and solstice calendrical station locations during the late 11th and early 12th centuries does suggest the likelihood of social schism or fragmentation (Lekson 2009: 127;238;308n56).”

• cites Lekson 2009: 127;238;308n56Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

These buildings most likely represent a centrally planned effort to reinvigorate a waning ritual/political system at Chaco, as suggested by Van Dyke (2008).

“We believe that these buildings most likely represent a centrally planned effort to reinvigorate a waning ritual/political system at Chaco, as suggested by Van Dyke (2008) (Munro & Malville 2010a).”

• cites Van Dyke (2008)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Munro & Malville (2010a)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Astronomical associations with architecture have emerged as a clear cultural marker among ancestral Pueblo people.

“Astronomical associations with architecture have emerged as a clear cultural marker among ancestral Pueblo people.”

The NS inter-building alignments provided opportunities for nighttime events where spectators could observe that a Great House was aligned directly under the visible void in the north about which the night sky rotates.

“Similarly, the NS inter-building alignments provided opportunities for nighttime events where spectators could observe that a Great House was aligned directly under the visible void in the north about which the night sky rotates.”