# What were the Chacoan roads for? · Great houses of Chaco Canyon > Four answers have been proposed. Ceremonial roads laid out to directions, sacred places and sky events, expressing a cosmology rather than… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSVR1WA0/what-were-the-chacoan-roads-for Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:03+00:00 --- **0** # What were the Chacoan roads for? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: ceremonial roads laid out to directions, sacred places and sky events, expressing a cosmology rather than…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Ceremonial roads laid out to directions, sacred places and sky events, expressing a cosmology rather than… leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters The roads are the most extensive Chacoan construction and the clearest sign of planning beyond the canyon. They are too wide and straight for footpaths, so their purpose says what kind of society built them⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT2DR405C/chaco-culture-national-historical-park)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT7HT2A4W/remote-sensing-of-chaco-roads-revisited)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT7SM2XXE/parallel-roads-solstice-and-sacred-geography-at-the-gasco). ## Answers 4 [**Ceremonial roads laid out to directions, sacred places and sky events, expressing a cosmology rather than…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV1XJ5KRF/ceremonial-roads-laid-out-to-directions-sacred-places-and) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**Routes for moving timber, food and goods between the canyon and its source areas.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV0YA1YHM/routes-for-moving-timber-food-and-goods-between-the-canyon) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Most likely [**Infrastructure of a regional polity that tied outliers to the centre and displayed its power.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV2N05PPS/infrastructure-of-a-regional-polity-that-tied-outliers-to) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV34M13EC/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2001[English et al.: more than 200,000 beams were carried from mountains 75 to 100 km away.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT3D01V6X/strontium-isotopes-reveal-distant-sources-of-architectural)For: Routes for moving timber, food and goods between the canyon and its source areas. 1. 2019[Benson et al. puts forward: routes for moving timber, food and goods between the canyon and its source areas.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT8RW320A/prehistoric-chaco-canyon-new-mexico-importation-of-meat-and) 1. 2019[Benson et al.: importing food for 2,300 people would take up to 18,000 foot trips.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT8RW320A/prehistoric-chaco-canyon-new-mexico-importation-of-meat-and)For: Routes for moving timber, food and goods between the canyon and its source areas. 1. 2025[Kohler et al. puts forward: infrastructure of a regional polity that tied outliers to the centre and displayed its power.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT9GA76P7/how-many-people-lived-in-the-chaco-regional-system-and-why) 1. 2025[Weiner et al.: the Gasco roads run in a parallel pair for more than 6 km and align with springs and the winter solstice…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT7SM2XXE/parallel-roads-solstice-and-sacred-geography-at-the-gasco)For: Ceremonial roads laid out to directions, sacred places and sky events, expressing a cosmology rather than… 1. 2025[Kohler et al.: kohler and colleagues treat roads and shrines or signalling stations as expected features of a polity of…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT9GA76P7/how-many-people-lived-in-the-chaco-regional-system-and-why)For: Infrastructure of a regional polity that tied outliers to the centre and displayed its power. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSVR1WA0/what-were-the-chacoan-roads-for%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSVR1WA0/what-were-the-chacoan-roads-for%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSVR1WA0/what-were-the-chacoan-roads-for%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSVR1WA0/what-were-the-chacoan-roads-for%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTSVR1WA0/what-were-the-chacoan-roads-for%23add-source) Where it fits Great houses of Chaco Canyon **What were the Chacoan roads for?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]