Fajada Butte

USA / New Mexico / Pueblo Pintado /
 mountain, summit
Elevation 6622 ft (2019 m)
Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Fajada Butte is the site of the famous Sun Dagger petroglyph. The petrolyph consists of a spiral of 9.5 turns. The center of the glyph is pierced by a daggar of light at noon on the summer solstice. There are alternate daggers which mark different parts of the spiral and a smaller spiral on the winter solstice and equinoxes. The 9.5 arms of the spiral mark the 18 year cycle of the moon.

Helicopter lands on Fajada Butte Chaco Canyon

www.youtube.com/watch?v=37P97Emb5Kk

caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.01854,-107.90979&z=17&am...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fajada_Butte
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   36°1'8"N   107°54'35"W

Comments

  • The Anasazi Indians, a small-of-stature native race, had a calendar/sun dial on top of Fajada Butte. There are three slabs of sandstone which lean into a sandstone wall, upon which is a large spiral design. I heard it was 'set' or calibrated to the 13 month cycle of the moon. And they definitely used it to time their crop plantings. This was just one feature in Chaco Culture. The main buildings, particularly Pueblo Bonita, were the main attraction. Large buildings made of little sandstone 'bricks' accomodated up to 2,000 people at one time. Outlying settlements are still present up to 5 miles away. Anyone would find it very cool.
  • The National Park Service currently restricts access to the top of the Butte in order to protect the Sun Dagger from further damage.
This article was last modified 3 years ago