Chaco is a research area focused on the Chaco Canyon region in the southwestern United States. This region is known for its ancient Puebloan culture, which thrived from around 850 to 1250 AD. Researchers in this area study the architecture, artifacts, and social organization of the ancient Puebloan people, as well as the environmental and cultural factors that contributed to the rise and fall of their civilization. Chaco research often involves interdisciplinary collaboration between archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, and environmental scientists to gain a comprehensive understanding of this ancient culture.