CHACO CULTURE

1877- HAYDEN SURVEY, first map and description (by W.H. Jackson) of Chaco sites

1896- Richard Wetherill moved to Chaco from Mancos, Colorado to investigate here after exploring Cliff Palace (in 1888) and other Anasazi sites in the four corners area. 1897-

1900- HYDE EXPLORING EXPEDITION led by George H. Pepper, (from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City), established full-scale excavations at Pueblo Bonito. Shipped 3 railroad boxcar - loads of artifacts from Bonito to the Museum.

1900- Wetherill homesteaded land which included Pueblo Bonito, Pueblo del Arroyo & Chetro Ketl ruins.

1902- EDGAR L. HEWETT, of the School of American Research mapped the archaeological features at Chaco.

1906- FEDERAL ANTIQUITIES ACT established to protect archaeological sites of the American southwest from exploitation. Hewett promoted this enactment, along with many others. Mesa Verde National Park established this same year.

1907- CHACO CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT ESTABLISHED, March 11, as Richard Wetherill relinquished his claim on lands held in Chaco.

1920-27 DR. NEIL JUDD, curator at the Smithsonian Institution, excavated 600 rooms of Pueblo Bonito, as well as Pueblo del Arroyo and several smaller sites for the National Geographic Society.

1928-29 DR. A. E. DOUGLASS of the University of Arizona applied the new method of tree ring dating to Chetro Ketl and many of the other sites in Chaco Canyon for the National Geographic Society.

1929-41 HEWETT, School of American Research-University of New Mexico excavations at Chetro Ketl and numerous small sites. DONALD D. BRAND of UNM archaeological field schools excavated several small sites.

1931- UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO deeded lands in Chaco Canyon National Monument to the National Park system, Department of Interior in exchange for continued rights to conduct scientific research in the area.

1937-70 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE salvage and stabilization begun. Some reconstruction was done during this time - particularly at Casa Rinconada. Stabilization continues to this day, and several members of the NPS stabilization crew are second-generation Chaco stonemasons. Explorations of water control devices and identification of the prehistoric road system were begun.

1971-81 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE & UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO established the DIVISION OF CULTURAL RESEARCH or "Chaco Center" under the direction of DR. ROBERT H. LISTER, and DR. JAMES JUDGE which began extensive archaeological surveys and excavations coordinated with environmental research. The ten years of intensive fieldwork have yielded enough information to keep archaeologists busy studying and speculating for the next thirty years!