Chaco Handbook: An Encyclopedia Guide

by R. Gwinn Vivian

Book by Vivian, R. Gwinn

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Archaeology, Native Americans

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2002

Reviews

[Captain Sir Roddy, R.N. (Ret.) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive review of just about everything to do with not only Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico, but also the influences of the Chacoan ancestral puebloan peoples upon the entire San Juan Basin. If you're planning to visit Chaco, or any of the prehistoric sites in the Four Corners region, this is a good reference to throw in the back of the car; you'll definitely find yourself going back to it time and again to look something up. Lavishly illustrated with maps, photographs, tables, etc. make it a very practical and useful book to have.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

We went to the canyon to view the ruins. This book gave us the background info we needed (more than we needed actually) to understand what we were seeing.

[Patrick Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Assume you have read other books on Chaco. Also assume you have been there a few times and have been overwhelmed like so many at the vastness of the site. Assume you need to put it all together in your head. This book helps. It is an A-Z compendium of not only the big ruins, but all of the outlier sites most people don’t trudge around because you need to hike! In clear concise language you have a list of archaeological terms (with background), architectural styles (put into a timeline context), recent and not so recent excavations, relationships to existing native populations (if any), cultural and religious theories (because theory is just what they are). This is a deluxe paperback with lots of illustrations which makes everything easy to find. Subjects are mostly brief—but given enough attention to satisfy the casual reader. I have started taking it with me on trips to Chaco because, it seems, little nitpick questions keep popping up in my mind. But—the book is too cumbersome to hike with. You don’t want to read while you are hiking anyway!

[Kevin Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential reference work if you're more than casually interested in the topic.
It was published in 2002, and needs updating.
It's not really a book you read and finish. After you finish the opening three chapters to get you up to speed, you keep it handy and look things up.
That said, the first three chapters are an excellent for those just dipping their toes into the Chaco world for the first time.

[Les Gehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an essential guide to Chaco. It loses a star since I didn't think that the encyclopedia format worked very well in presenting the information. I would have preferred more of a narrative approach to the subject since I (and I assume most other readers) will not be using it as a reference book, but as a way to learn more about Chaco.

[Lisa]

new

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Macaw and cacao at 36.06°N 107.97°W.

[Zach]

A thorough introduction to the minutiae of Chaco as well as its larger tropes. Although much less exuberantly written than Lekson's books, it offers access to multiple perspectives surrounding Chaco. Perfect for a pre-visit read.