Astronomy Buildings of the Ancient Southwest

Construction begins in Chaco Canyon

900

Construction begins on the astronomically aligned plans for Chaco. The matriarchal dynasty which ruled over the canyon is likely already in power and their astronomers and spiritual leaders have studied the sky long enough to deliberately arrange Chaco for their needs.

Solstice Room is Constructed at S'edav Va'aki

1150

The Hohokam culture to the southwest of the Ancestral Pueblo range construct buildings on top of earthwork mounds over the centuries. Sometime in this period they build one in S'edav Va'aki that appears to track the summer and winter solstice with its two doorways.

Sun Temple at Mesa Verde

1250

As part of the final wave of construction at Mesa Verde by the Ancestral Pueblo, the building now known as the Sun Temple begins construction in roughly this period. Archeologists debate whether the massive temple was ever completed due to massive damage to some walls which may have never actually been fully erected to begin with. This structure tracks the solstices but not the lunar cycle.