In
Celebration
of
the Solstice Project’s new book
CHACO
ASTRONOMY
An Ancient American Cosmology
By
Anna Sofaer and Contributors to the Solstice Project
There will be several Solstice Project events this spring 2008. These
events are hosted and attended by groups that include professional
astronomers, architects, geodecists and the general public.
At
the occassions listed below, Anna Sofaer and her colleagues will
speak, in some cases with a screening of the Project’s film
The Mystery of Chaco Canyon, and at others, showing its new interactive
computer graphics model of the Sun Dagger site.
Chaco Astronomy: An Ancient
American Cosmology
by Anna Sofaer
Saturday,
May 24th, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Page One Bookstore
11018 Montgomery NE
Albuquerque, NM
High on a butte in New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon at summer solstice in 1977, researcher Anna Sofaer encountered an astonishing phenomenon—a single shaft of light bisecting a spiral petroglyph, crafted long ago by the ancestors of today’s Pueblo people. Her recognition of its significance led to thirty years of research that has revealed extensive astronomical expressions in Chaco’s architecture and art. These efforts by Sofaer with numerous colleagues in archaeology and astronomy, and with Native scholars, developed a revolutionary view of Chaco as a center of complex cosmology.
Sofaer’s book and the research work of the Santa
Fe-based Solstice Project, “shape a startling new conception of
Chaco Canyon as a pilgrimage center, its buildings largely symbolic,
locked with Mesoamerica into one grand cosmological order,” according
to the architectural historian Vincent Scully, Yale Sterling Professor
Emeritus.
Ms. Sofaer will be giving a presentation on her findings, as well as showing
portions of a the Soltice Project's film "The Mystery of Chaco Canyon,"
before signing books at Page One in Albuquerque.
Chaco Astronomy: An Ancient
American Cosmology
by Anna Sofaer
a book discussion
Saturday,
April 19, 2008 - 11:00 AM
Smithsonian - National Museum of the American Indian
Rooms 4018-19 (Fourth level)
Washington, D.C.
The Sun Dagger of Chaco
Canyon - A Digital Model
Thursday, March 6th - 7pm
Bradbury Science Museum
15th and Central Streets
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Anna Sofaer and Alan Price will present the Solstice Project's
Interactive Digital Model of the Sun Dagger site.
Representing 20 years
of research and three years in production, the model is an archival restoration
of a thousand year old calendrical site of Chaco Canyon that marks the
solar and lunar cycles. The model’s interactive tools offer opportunities
to analyze astronomical functioning of the site and to explore how
it was originally developed.
At the Sun Dagger site, the Chacoan people commemorated
the cycles of the sun and the moon in light patterns cast by rock slabs
onto spiral rock carvings. Through state of the art technologies and
with an outstanding team of photogrammatrists, a geodecist and computer
modelers, the Solstice Project achieved its goal of archival digital
restoration of the site. (In 1989, the Project found that the rock slabs
had shifted and the light markings on the petroglyphs had been significantly
disturbed.)
The interactive capability
of this computer model offers dynamic opportunities for scientific exploration
of the site. One can navigate around the 3- D model, observing it from
any angle, set the calendar date and time of day for positioning the
sun and moon, projecting shadows of the stone slabs onto the cliff and
spiral patterns in real time.
The slabs and the spirals can be adjusted
in their positions and shapes. The student or scholar is in essence in
the role of a Chacoan astronomer, testing the sensitivity of the elements
of the site and assessing what actions may have been taken by the Chacoans
to precisely mark the sun and the moon. In these images the model accurately
replicates the summer solstice sun dagger. The colored lines indicate
certain interactive movements that can be done with the model.
The scholars behind the making of the Sun Dagger model over many years include:
Anna Sofaer, president of the Solstice Project has coordinated since 1978 the Project’s interdisciplinary astronomical research and preservation efforts with the Sun Dagger site. Their work included ongoing mapping and surveying efforts since 1979 to record the fragile slabs and spirals, as well as extensive photo documentation of the site’s solar and lunar markings. These efforts finally culminated in the precise digital restoration of the Sun Dagger in 2006.
Phillip Tuwalststiwa, a geodecist and member of the Hopi Tribe, gave his early support and participation in the model building at the Center for Mapping of Ohio State University.
James Holmlund, president of Western Mapping developed the laser-scanned model of the Sun Dagger site in 2006.
Andrew Piscitello, president of Aero-Metric Company, developed the 1984
photogametric model of the Sun Dagger site in 2006.
William Stone, National Geodetic Survey of NOAA, made a precise astronomical
survey of the Sun Dagger site essential to the model’s accurate
replication of its solar and lunar markings.
Alan Price, Associate Professor, the Advanced Computing Center for
the Arts and Design, Ohio State University, tested the model with astronomical
programs and created the interactive model with extensive research
tools.
Chaco Astronomy: An Ancient American Cosmology
A Presentation by Anna Sofaer
Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 7:00 pm
Bradbury Science Museum
Central and 15th Street, Los Alamos
High on a butte in New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon at summer solstice in 1977, researcher Anna Sofaer encountered an astonishing phenomenon—a single shaft of light bisecting a spiral petroglyph, crafted long ago by the ancestors of today’s Pueblo people. Her recognition of its significance led to thirty years of research that has revealed extensive astronomical expressions in Chaco’s architecture and art. These efforts by Sofaer with numerous colleagues in archaeology and astronomy, and with Native scholars, developed a revolutionary view of Chaco as a center of complex cosmology.
Sofaer will present new information from Chaco Astronomy: An Ancient
American Cosmology, her groundbreaking 2008 book, at her lecture and
demonstration at the Bradbury Science Museum on Thursday evening, February
21, from 7 to 8:30 pm. The book documents the Solstice Project’s
research regarding the famous “Sun Dagger” site, lunar
and solar alignments of the major Chaco buildings, and a religious
function in the construction of the Great North Road.
Sofaer and her colleague Alan Price, a professor of computer technology at Ohio State University, will also present their remarkable digital reconstruction of the original Sun Dagger site on Fajada Butte. This model is an archival record of the Sun Dagger site and its astronomical functioning. They will show how the model, with its extensive interactive capability, allows experimental research of the site’s original development. The first part of the award winning documentary film The Mystery of Chaco Canyon, narrated by Robert Redford, will also be shown.
Sofaer’s book and the research work of the Santa Fe-based Solstice Project, “shape a startling new conception of Chaco Canyon as a pilgrimage center, its buildings largely symbolic, locked with Mesoamerica into one grand cosmological order,” according to the architectural historian Vincent Scully, Yale Sterling Professor Emeritus.
Before her talk and presentation at the Bradbury Museum, Anna Sofaer will sign Chaco Astronomy at the nearby Otowi Station Bookstore, 1350 Central Avenue, from 5 to 7 pm.
Sofaer is director of the non-profit Solstice Project, an organization
she founded in 1978 to conduct research, preservation and education
efforts on the astronomical expressions of the Chacoan Culture. For
more about The Mystery of Chaco Canyon, and the work of the Solstice
Project, visit www.solsticeproject.org.
Chaco Astronomy: An Ancient American Cosmology
“Voices in Science” Lecture by Anna Sofaer
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 7:00 pm
Dynatheater, New Mexico Museum of Natural History
1801 Mountain Road N.W., Albuquerque
High on a butte in New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon at summer solstice in 1977, researcher Anna Sofaer encountered an astonishing phenomenon—a single shaft of light bisecting a spiral petroglyph, crafted long ago by the ancestors of today’s Pueblo people. Her recognition of its significance led to thirty years of research and recovery regarding astronomical expressions in Chaco’s architecture and art. These efforts by Sofaer with numerous colleagues in archaeology and astronomy, and with Native scholars, developed a revolutionary view of Chaco as a center of complex cosmology.
In a “Voices in Science” lecture at the New Mexico Museum
of Natural History on Tuesday, February 12, Sofaer will present new information
from her 2008 book, Chaco Astronomy: An Ancient American Cosmology. This
groundbreaking book documents the Solstice Project’s research regarding
the “Sun Dagger” site, lunar and solar alignments of the
major Chaco buildings, and a religious function in the construction of
the Great North Road.
The Solstice Project’s remarkable digital reconstruction of the original Sun Dagger site on Fajada
Butte will also be shown. This model is an archival record of the Sun Dagger construction’s astronomical functioning and, with its extensive interactive capability, it allows in depth researchof the site’s original development.
Brian Vallo of the Acoma Pueblo, director of the Indian Pueblo Cultural
Center Museum, will introduce Sofaer and will speak about the significance
of Chaco in Pueblo history. Kirby Gchachu
of Zuni Pueblo and Indigenous Science Instructor at SIPI, will also comment on Chaco and its cosmological expressions. Sofaer will sign her books following the presentation.
Anna Sofaer is director of the non-profit Solstice Project, the organization
she founded in 1978 that conducts research, preservation and education
efforts on the astronomical expressions of the Chacoan Culture. She
produced, directed, and co-wrote The Mystery of Chaco Canyon, a documentary
film narrated by Robert Redford and shown on PBS and National Geographic
television channels (visit www.solsticeproject.org).
The lecture and presentation is co-sponsored by the Indian Pueblo Cultural
Center, Bookworks, and Ocean Tree Books. Admission: $2 public, $1 museum
members, seniors, and students. Reservations recommended: call Chris
Sanchez at 841-2872 or email chris.sanchez@state.nm.us
Tuesday,
November 20th, 2007 - 5:30 pm
CCA
Cinematheque, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe.
In response to the overwhelming turnout for the Book Launch Event on Novemeber 12th, in which dozens of people were turned away for lack of space, Collected Works Bookstore and the CCA Cinematheque are hosting a second event December 12th.
Chaco
Astronomy: An Ancient American Cosmology
by Anna Sofaer
with a screening of the Solstice Project’s film “The Mystery of Chaco Canyon” Narrated by Robert Redford.
At
7:00 author Anna Sofaer and Special Guest Petuuche Gilbert of Acoma
Pueblo will be available for a question and answer session, and
to sign books. Wine and cheese will be served.
Monday,
November 12, 2007 - 6:00 pm
CCA Cinematheque,
1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe.
Collected Works Bookstore and the CCA Cinematheque invite you to the Book Launch of
Chaco
Astronomy: An Ancient American Cosmology
by Anna Sofaer
with a screening of the Solstice Project’s film “The Mystery of Chaco Canyon” Narrated by Robert Redford.
At 7:30, following the film and a question and answer session, the author will sign books. Wine and cheese will be served.
Note: The Chaco works were wrought with the skills and knowledge that can only be found today in many different disciplines. It is no coincidence that the events where the Solstice Project has been invited to present its materials on Chaco astronomy involve such diverse professions as astronomy, architecture, education (of traditional and modern culture), geography and geodecy, archaeology and art.
The
Chaco people integrated art, science and religion in their rich
cosmological expressions. Today we are specialized and yet within
each area of our interests we can broaden our understanding of
what an integrated culture could accomplish as we view the Chacoan
works for their unity of art, astronomy and architecture.
October
30, 2:00 pm
Southwest Users Group Conference, Santa Fe, NM
Anna
Sofaer will give the keynote address of the Southwest Users
Group Conference at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe. Geodisist
and photographer William Stone, with Sofaer, will show the Solstice
Project’s new interactive computer graphics model of the Sun
Dagger site. They will discuss the history and process of developing
the interactive model. There will also be a showing of The Mystery
of Chaco Canyon.
www.swuggis.org
October
13, 7:30 pm
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Chaco
Culture National Historical Park hosts a lecture by Anna
Sofaer with a screening of The Mystery of Chaco Canyon. There
will be a question and answer session following the film.
www.nps.gov/chcu/
Sept
19, 7:00 pm
CCA Film Theatre, Santa Fe, NM
The American Institute of Architects presents the Solstice
Project’s film The Mystery of Chaco Canyon. A reception and a
question and answer session with Anna Sofaer will follow the screening.
www.ccasantafe.org
September 14, 8:30 am
Taos, NM
Anna Sofaer will give
the Keynote address at the 1st Annual Southwest Night Sky Conference in
Taos, New Mexico.
1:00 – 2:00 pm The Mystery of Chaco Canyon will
screen with a question and answer session following the film.
www.nmheritage.org