Chaco Canyon’s ancient civilization continues to puzzle
A rash of studies try to piece together an early American society
IN NEW LIGHT Recent research suggests that the ancient Chaco society of the U.S. Southwest was founded by locals and run by a female lineage for hundreds of years. The best-known Chaco structures are great houses, massive, multilevel buildings represented here by the remains of Pueblo del Arroyo.
PETER DONALDSON/ALAMY
Chaco Canyon is a land of extremes.