Welcome to the fascinating Jackson Stairway, a testament to the engineering prowess and cultural significance of the ancient Chacoan people. Found in the heart of New Mexico, this stairway is an integral part of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, offering an intriguing insight into the lives and achievements of the Ancestral Puebloans.
The Jackson Stairway, prominently located above Chetro Ketl, is a striking example of the Chacoan’s innovative road system. This stairway allowed the Chacoans to traverse the challenging landscape of the region, demonstrating their determination to maintain connectivity between their communities. The Chacoan roads, renowned for their straightness and meticulous construction, often defied the natural topography, cutting through cliffs and mesas. The stairway you see here was carved directly into the rock, facilitating access to the mesa top without deviating from the original road alignment.
The Chacoan culture flourished between 900 and 1150 AD, and their road network extended throughout the San Juan Basin and beyond, linking numerous outlying communities. While the exact purpose of these roads remains a subject of debate among archaeologists, some believe they served more symbolic or ceremonial roles rather than purely practical ones. This theory is supported by the alignment of some roads with significant landscape features or other great houses.
Over time, the Chaco Canyon and its infrastructure, including the Jackson Stairway, have captured the imagination of historians and visitors alike, providing a window into the ingenuity and adaptability of the Chacoan people. As you explore this remarkable site, imagine the footsteps of those who once climbed these very steps, connecting their lives to the broader Chacoan world.
