The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) is proud to announce its upcoming lecture series featuring “The Chaco Phenomenon,” a captivating three-part program that explores the rise and fall, influence and legacy of the Ancestral Puebloan Chaco Culture — and its enduring connection to Chimney Rock National Monument.
The series will take place over three consecutive Fridays in August at 6 p.m. in the Community United Methodist Church fellowship hall. The doors will open at 5:45 p.m. Each lecture will feature a distinguished expert in Southwestern archaeology and anthropology.
Lecture 1, “Chaco Canyon — Its Origins, People, and History,” will be on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.
Presented by G.B. Cornucopia, retired National Park Service archaeologist and longtime interpretive ranger at Chaco Canyon, this talk will trace the roots of the Chacoan culture, from its early inhabitants and monumental architecture to its peak influence and eventual decline. Cornucopia, a pioneer in Chaco’s astronomy programs, brings decades of field experience and a passion for ancient skywatching traditions.
Lecture 2, “The Chaco Culture —Its Influence, Outliers, and Decline,” will be on Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.
Join Tori Myers, executive director of the Salmon Ruins Museum, as she delves into the geographic and cultural reach of the Chacoan world. Myers will discuss the intricate network of outlier communities such as Chimney Rock, as well as the social, religious and linguistic ties that bound them to Chaco Canyon. Her work emphasizes both scientific archaeology and the storytelling power of artifacts and cultural memory.
Lecture 3, “The Chimney Rock Great House and Chaco Regional System,” will be Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.
Presented by Dr. Susan Ryan, executive vice president of the Research Institute at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, this lecture focuses on the Chimney Rock Pueblo itself — its community and the role it played within the Chacoan regional system. Ryan’s presentation will highlight the broader implications of archaeological study in understanding community development and cultural identities.
Admission is free. This series offers a rare opportunity to hear from some of the region’s most respected voices in Southwestern archaeology and to deepen your understanding of one of North America’s most fascinating ancient cultures.
Donations are welcome. Canned goods for the church’s food pantry are greatly appreciated.
CRIA’s free lecture series offers the opportunity each year for the public and CRIA volunteers to enjoy a speaker whose topic typically relates to southwest archaeology, archaeoastronomy and/or Chacoan culture.
CRIA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that offers interpretive programs at Chimney Rock National Monument in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the San Juan National Forest. For more information, see the CRIA website at www.chimneyrockco.org or call (970) 731-7133.
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