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The Solstice Project studies the rich astronomical heritage of the ancient Chaco culture in the American Southwest. Founded in 1978 by Anna Sofaer, our non-profit organization has published research, books and award-winning films that document how the Chaco culture's ceremonial architecture was built to align with the cycles of the sun and moon. We also created the stunning Sun Dagger site atop Fajada Butte, that casts light patterns marking the solar and lunar cycles on spiral rock carvings. Our ground-breaking research of Chaco architecture and roads continues to enrich studies of archaeology, archaeoastronomy, anthropology and Native American cultures. Because our work relies on your donations, please consider making a contribution today.

What We're Doing!

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Chaco Canyon on Prime Time

We're thrilled to announce that our award-winning film, "The Mystery of Chaco Canyon" is now streaming on Amazon Prime at this link: www.amazon.com/Mystery-Chaco-Canyon-Robert-Redford/dp/B08VF91V4L.

In addition, you can now purchase the DVD of our full-length documentary, narrated by Robert Redford, on Amazon. Here's the link: www.amazon.com/Mystery-Chaco-Canyon-Eric-Temple/dp/B000VHV6SW
 

Annual Letter from the Solstice Project

Dear Friend,

Alonso Mendexa and Ann SofaerWith great thanks for your continuing interest and support, we wish to share the exciting progress of our new film Written on the Landscape: Mysteries Beyond Chaco Canyon, and the results of our recent research in the greater Chaco World.

For details, please see our Annual Letter by clicking the image here, to the right.

You will view our innovative modeling and animation of the monumental Chaco buildings and go on an in depth journey into Pueblo Bonito, a building on a par with temple architecture of the ancient world. With these new technologies, our film draws out the remarkable complexity of the Chaco World and its vast expanse across the Four Corners. Media/2021/Annual Letter Html E3ae345ef5557dc0/Annual_Letter_Html_E3ae345ef5557dc0.pngWe explore the stimulating impact of Mesoamerican objects in the inner precinct of Bonito and learn from parallel developments in the wider Mesoamerican region of solar and lunar astronomy.

In our recent interviews and field work we have gained insights into the intensity of the ritual lives of the ancient Chacoans and perceptions of their skills of mapping an immense desert terrain with their intricate cosmology.

Our efforts continue to protect the Chaco legacy, and to share its beauty and accomplishments through our films and papers. Look for a rebroadcast by KNME at summer solstice of our last film The Mystery of Chaco Canyon.

Your support is vital to our work. Please send your tax deductible contributions by clicking here, or mailing a check to our address below. You can follow us on Facebook for current news at facebook.com/solsticeproject, you can also follow the page for our new move at facebook.com/Written-On-The-Landscape-Mysteries-Beyond-Chaco-Canyon!

Sincerely,

Anna Sofaer
Founder and President
Solstice Project

 

Our Research Continues in the Wider Chaco World…

Rob Weiner, John Stein, and Rich Friedman at Kin Nizhoni Great House, AZ, perusing Rob’s Ph.D. dissertation research on Chaco Roads.

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