NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New technology is proving to be a game changer at historic sites like Chaco Canyon, where researchers recently found a new, previously undiscovered road, which could reveal more about those living there hundreds of years ago. Story continues below Investigation: DWI cases Albuquerque officers and paralegal made disappear Crime: Santa Fe Police identify man who was killed in hit-and-run Don't Miss: Rio Rancho to review plans to redevelop old country club golf course For years, LiDAR technology has been used to shed light on what the landscape looked like, in centuries past. The technology uses laser light to measure distance and creates 3D models of an area. Recently, it helped researchers uncover a previously unknown road at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a complex of ancient ruins south of Farmington, where people lived between 850 and 1250 CE, that served as a gathering site for Navajo groups of that era. “What we're looking at is something that helps to identify the larger connectedness of the Chacoan culture over a large area, which shows how developed their society was,” said Chief of Resource Management for Chaco Culture National Historical Park Aron Adams. With LiDAR and on-the-ground observation, researchers with Dartmouth College recently discovered there were two roads, not just one, like they previously thought at the Gasco site south of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. What struck researchers is that the roads are aligned with the winter solstice sunrise over Mount Taylor. The team believes that these roads were not likely used to connect settlements for trade but rather were used for sacred purposes. A researcher on the project sent KRQE this statement: Our research combining LiDAR and on-the-ground observation led us to discover that there were two parallel roads at the Gasco Site. Before this study, we didn't know the second road existed. This combination of LiDAR technology and ground survey also helped us see that the roads are aligned to the winter solstice sunrise over Mount Taylor, a very important mountain to Pueblo and Navajo people today. Rather than connecting settlements for trade, these roads instead seem define a sacred landscape. Dartmouth archaeologist Robert S. Weiner, Ph.D. LiDAR not only enables discoveries but can also help with preserving the historic site. “We can tell if the walls are leaning or if there's other structural issues that we need to address,” said Adams. “One of the things that's critical for us is making sure our visitors are safe, and we can utilize this technology to ensure that we address those areas of concern that are noted along trails.” Chaco officials said the next time LiDAR contractors will be out conducting research is in April, when they will be assessing the architecture for maintenance. ...read more read less