# Sofaer 1982: Lunar Markings on Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

> Anna Sofaer, Rolf M. Sinclair, LeRoy E. Doggett, 1982. 5 records on Mysteries Department cite it. The founding statement of the lunar reading of the Sun…

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D9KTB7030KR/lunar-markings-on-fajada-butte-chaco-canyon-new-mexico  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
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[Sources](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources)[Great houses of Chaco Canyon](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon)Sofaer 1982

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# Lunar Markings on Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

Anna Sofaer, Rolf M. Sinclair, LeRoy E. Doggett, 1982. _Archaeoastronomy in the New World, ed. Anthony F. Aveni, Cambridge University Press: 169-186_.

Argues that the Sun Dagger site also records the 18.6-year lunar cycle: at moonrise the eastern slab's shadow bisects the large spiral at the northern minor standstill and falls on its left edge at the major standstill. Describes the slabs (2 to 3 m high, about 1,000 kg each) and the spirals (9½ turns, 34 by 41 cm; 2½ turns, 9 by 13 cm).

**Great houses of Chaco Canyon** ChapterChecked against the original0

## What it's used for here

The founding statement of the lunar reading of the Sun Dagger.

## Cited by on this site 5 records

[At moonrise the eastern slab's shadow marks the moon's minor and major standstills on the large spiral, and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/answers/ANS0D9KVMYY1XT5/at-moonrise-the-eastern-slabs-shadow-marks-the-moons-minor)

Answer

ANS

[At sunrise at declination +18.4°, standing in for the moon at its northern minor standstill, the eastern…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/evidence/EVD0D9KVN6R48Z3/at-sunrise-at-declination-18-4-standing-in-for-the-moon-at)

Evidence

EVD

[Rolf M. Sinclair](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/people/FIG0D9KTQNE1C4S/rolf-m-sinclair)

FIG

[The great houses of Chaco Canyon](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon)

The mystery article

MYS

[Does the Sun Dagger also mark the 18.6-year lunar standstill cycle?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/chaco-canyon/questions/QST0D9KV4KG0K3Y/does-the-sun-dagger-also-mark-the-18-6-year-lunar-standstill)

Question

QST

## Cite it

```
Sofaer, A., Sinclair, R. M., & Doggett, L. E. (1982). Lunar Markings on Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Archaeoastronomy in the New World, ed. Anthony F. Aveni, Cambridge University Press: 169-186. https://solsticeproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20-lunarfajada2028198229.pdf
```

[Read it free at solsticeproject.org](https://solsticeproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20-lunarfajada2028198229.pdf)

Key

**SRC** 0D9KTB7030KR

Kind

Book chapter

Rights

The publisher's

Kept

27 Oct 2026, for editors

Checked

Against the published original

Added by

[apollo](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)

The record

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