# Do the buildings and markers at Chaco encode astronomy? · Great houses of Chaco Canyon > Four answers have been proposed. The Fajada solar markings are deliberate but the site was a sun shrine, not a precise calendar, and the lunar… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTT3J4BBQ/do-the-buildings-and-markers-at-chaco-encode-astronomy Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:03+00:00 --- **0** # Do the buildings and markers at Chaco encode astronomy? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the Sun Dagger marks the solstices, equinoxes and lunar standstills, and great houses and shrines are aligned…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. The Fajada solar markings are deliberate but the site was a sun shrine, not a precise calendar, and the lunar… leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Chaco is a type site for American archaeoastronomy. Whether the Sun Dagger and the building alignments track the sun and the 18.6-year lunar cycle decides how much astronomical knowledge can be credited to the builders⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6AR0XPY/a-unique-solar-marking-construct)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6JJ6MNC/the-fajada-butte-solar-marker-a-reevaluation)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6TC4WTP/inter-site-alignments-of-prehistoric-shrines-in-chaco-canyon). ## Answers 4 [**The Fajada solar markings are deliberate but the site was a sun shrine, not a precise calendar, and the lunar…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV4BP4PT6/the-fajada-solar-markings-are-deliberate-but-the-site-was-a) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**The Sun Dagger marks the solstices, equinoxes and lunar standstills, and great houses and shrines are aligned…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV3CE4EX1/the-sun-dagger-marks-the-solstices-equinoxes-and-lunar) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Most likely [**Apart from the solstice markings, the claimed alignments are no more frequent than chance.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV5347V07/apart-from-the-solstice-markings-the-claimed-alignments-are) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KV5JR15HW/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1979[Sofaer et al. puts forward: the Sun Dagger marks the solstices, equinoxes and lunar standstills, and great houses and shrines are aligned…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6AR0XPY/a-unique-solar-marking-construct) 1. 1979[Sofaer et al.: light and shadow on the Fajada Butte spirals mark the solstices and equinoxes by the height of the midday sun.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6AR0XPY/a-unique-solar-marking-construct)For: The Sun Dagger marks the solstices, equinoxes and lunar standstills, and great houses and shrines are aligned… 1. 1985[Zeilik puts forward: the Fajada solar markings are deliberate but the site was a sun shrine, not a precise calendar, and the lunar…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6JJ6MNC/the-fajada-butte-solar-marker-a-reevaluation) 1. 1985[Zeilik: zeilik finds no ethnographic or functional support for lunar standstill use of the site.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6JJ6MNC/the-fajada-butte-solar-marker-a-reevaluation)Against: The Sun Dagger marks the solstices, equinoxes and lunar standstills, and great houses and shrines are aligned… 1. 1985[Zeilik: zeilik judged the marker unable to give accurate anticipatory solar dates in the Puebloan context.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6JJ6MNC/the-fajada-butte-solar-marker-a-reevaluation)For: The Fajada solar markings are deliberate but the site was a sun shrine, not a precise calendar, and the lunar… 1. 1986[Sofaer & Sinclair: sofaer and Sinclair published an appraisal disputing Zeilik's longer critique.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KTAQC0PDW/an-appraisal-of-michael-zeiliks-a-reassessment-of-the-fajada)Against: The Fajada solar markings are deliberate but the site was a sun shrine, not a precise calendar, and the lunar… 1. 2017[Sofaer et al.: sofaer, Weiner and Stone report inter-site shrine alignments to the major lunar standstill.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KT6TC4WTP/inter-site-alignments-of-prehistoric-shrines-in-chaco-canyon)For: The Sun Dagger marks the solstices, equinoxes and lunar standstills, and great houses and shrines are aligned… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KTT3J4BBQ/do-the-buildings-and-markers-at-chaco-encode-astronomy%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/QST0D9KTT3J4BBQ/do-the-buildings-and-markers-at-chaco-encode-astronomy%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/QST0D9KTT3J4BBQ/do-the-buildings-and-markers-at-chaco-encode-astronomy%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/QST0D9KTT3J4BBQ/do-the-buildings-and-markers-at-chaco-encode-astronomy%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/QST0D9KTT3J4BBQ/do-the-buildings-and-markers-at-chaco-encode-astronomy%23add-source) Where it fits Great houses of Chaco Canyon **Do the buildings and markers at Chaco encode astronomy?** Key question · you're here [Are the great houses aligned to solar and lunar directions, or do their orientations follow building tradition and topography?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KV4VA5QRF/are-the-great-houses-aligned-to-solar-and-lunar-directions)Most likely · most great houses face south to south-south-east, continuing the orientation of earlier pit houses and unit… [Was the Fajada Butte spiral made and used as a solar calendar?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KV4BP04RM/was-the-fajada-butte-spiral-made-and-used-as-a-solar)Most likely · the site was a sun shrine where the solstices and equinoxes were watched and honoured, not a calendar for… [ Ask a question under this one ]