Wijiji

The great house of Wijiji, apparently built in one short construction effort around A. D. 1110, provides an excellent primary calendrical station for winter solstice.

As viewed from the northwestern corner of the house, the sun rises at the sharply defined northern edge of the notch on the southeastern horizon on December 4-5, providing thereby a 16-17 day opportunity for precise anticipation of winter solstice.

The sun reaches the southern edge of the notch on winter solstice, providing confirmation. This site may have functioned as a calendrical station for the Chaco community prior to the construction of the great house.

Within the rincon northeast of Wijiji there is another apparent sun-watching station at which the winter solstice sun can be seen rising behind a prominent pillar. Near that location, oval grinding areas are conjoined with incised Navajo images.

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