Chaco Synthesis Project Records

The Chaco Synthesis Project, funded by the National Park Service and managed by Stephen H. Lekson of the University of Colorado-Boulder, was an extensive scholarly endeavor aimed at re-evaluating the Chacoan culture. This multi-year project included six topically themed conferences, a panel discussion, symposium papers, and a School of Advanced Research (SAR) seminar, and was conducted from 2001 to 2006. The project synthesized findings from the earlier Chaco Project (1971-1982) and culminated in the "Chaco Capstone" conference. The outcomes were published in two key volumes: "The Archaeology of Chaco Canyon" (2006), edited by Lekson, and "Culture and Ecology of Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin" (2005) by F. Joan Mathin.

This collection consists of 6.09 linear feet of records detailing the administration, budgeting, and planning of the Chaco Synthesis Project. It includes documentation of the themed conferences, such as coordination, proceedings, and reports, along with papers and publications resulting from the project. Additionally, the collection features audio and video recordings of the conferences, preserved on analog media, and photographs from the Chaco Project Awards Dinner held in 2002. Organized into five series—Administration and Budget, Themed Conferences Planning, Proceedings, and Reports, Journal Articles and Publications, and Conferences Audio Recordings—the collection provides a comprehensive overview of the project’s scope, impact, and scholarly contributions from notable experts including Nancy J. Akins, Linda S. Cordell, and Colin Renfrew.