On the lessons from Chaco (ad gated):
New Mexico has always been a dry place, at least on the time scales that matter for the ancient civilizations Henderson and Robbins were trying to understand. Our history could be written as a story of people forever searching for a stable water supply to support the cities they were trying to build.
I’ve a post up in part inspired by this story, and in part by Zombie-Shooting-Need-to-Feeling. Feel free to take a look!
http://misteratherton.blogspot.com/2008/12/blood-from-stone.html