Written on the Landscape

Mysteries Beyond Chaco Canyon

An Ancient Civilization

Filmmakers Anna Sofaer and Christopher Beaver take viewers on an exciting exploration of the minds and inspirations of the remarkable Chaco Canyon culture driven by religion and cosmology. The Chaco people emerge from a thousand years ago through new insights of archaeologists, and the words of descendant Pueblo people who hold knowledge of their ancestors to this day.

“This film is a journey not only through history but through the very soul of a land and its people.” Robert Redford

“We have no idea how their thinking went, unless you look at the Astronomy.” Philip Tuwaletstiwa, Hopi

60 min.

Running Time

New Mexico, USA

Location

2024

Year

English

Language

Light & Shadow

Without modern tools, wheel or beast of burden, these ancient people built ceremonial Great Houses and connected them to places of spiritual power aligned with the Sun and the Moon.

* Photo of Chimney Rock lunar alignment by Adriel Heisey.

Creative Team

Directed & Produced by Anna Sofaer
Written by: Christopher Beaver, Anna Sofaer
Associate Producer: Helen Colton
Editor: Christopher Beaver
Cinematography: Christopher Beaver, Joe Dean, Matt Dibble, Melinda Frame,
Corey Robinson, Larry Ruiz, William Stone, Dyanna Taylor, Davd Valentine, Tara Welch
Time Lapse, Aerial Cinematography: Davd Valentine
Aerial Cinematography, Still Photography: Adriel Heisey
Animation: Richard Friedman
Narrated by Christopher Beaver
A Solstice Project production