New Mexico's Chaco Canyon: A Place Of Kings And Palaces?

Ascribe Newswire ^ | 6-5-2006

[Renfield]

".....Quit it, I'm envious...."

We also visited Aztec Ruins National Monument, and the Anthropology Musuem at the University of New Mexico :<D

[conservativeharleyguy]

I'm not sure. It's been a very long time, and if they ever talked about specific people, as a kid of course I wasn't listening. I think the "Gallina" were thought to have populated part of what is today the northwestern Santa Fe National Forest and maybe some of the Carson. The whole region is virtually littered with small sites by the thousands.

I remember going arrowhead hunting (when one could still do so) with my mother all over the north-northwest side of the Jemez (near the San Pedro Parks Wilderness, Cuba, Gallina, Coyote, Pedernal, etc.), etc. as a kid. I remember going near Gallina, because my niece is named Christina and my nephew and I got a lot of mileage out of teasing her with the name "Tina Gallina" (gallina being slang for chicken in Northern NM).

My brother's in-laws near Abiquiu have a number of mound sites on their ranch property where we used to find turquoise and shell beads in huge ant piles.

We also used to hunt arrowheads over by Medanales and Tierra Azul (between Espanola and El Rito.

Among others, I do have a beautiful Folsom point that my grandfather found somewhere in the vicinity of Lindreth, NM, in the early 20's, but in spite of being in the same general locale, that would of course be much older.

[blam]

"We also visited Aztec Ruins National Monument, and the Anthropology Musuem at the University of New Mexico :

Well!

I've been talking (ahem) about going to either Skra Brae or Tiwanaku. (still talking...)

[bert]

....And, they ate people.....

I thought the alleged cannibalism occured after the movement from Chaco during the period of decline?.

[bert]

.....ceremonies and storage .......

The probable use of Pueblo Bonita as storage is most likely. Most spaces have no windows or doors and thus no lighting except from a hole in the roof.In other works he hypothesizes that storing food allowed political control. There are also very large kivas as seperate structures for the ceremonies.

[bert]

.......Don't know if I'll make Chaco this trip unfortunately. ......

For the record..... Chaco is most important. Everywhere else is derivative.

Also, have you read any Tony Hillerman books? If not, look into them. He writes wonderful stuff and he has written so many books there is bound to be one describing the palces in Arizona or New Mexico or utah or colarado you are going.

I was in Arizona in March but would head to chaco tonite if able.

[dljordan]

"I will never forget entering the ruin over a road thru a reservation. We had a rented DeVille and traversed 23 miles of the worst road I can remember -- it took more than an hour to navigate but was worth it. We got there an noticed we were the only vehicle other than an SUV or 4WD. Course, we all know a rent car can go about anywhere. No damage done but was very slow going over a dirt road with rock outcroppings every 100 feet."

Been there, done that. That road was a nightmare.

[blam]

Did Cannabalism Kill Anasazi Civilization

[Neoliberalnot]

That has to be the same road. It was not maintained, no gravel, impassable when muddy, and rock outcroppings every where. I had to move all over the road to avoid hitting the oil pan on that caddy.

[Neoliberalnot]

Yes, they were a fascinating people. Have you read Louis L'Amour and Tony Hillerman, both of which know much about the anasazi. They were geniuses at capturing water--absent that they would have perished look before their time.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Another place I'd highly recommend visiting nearby is Hovenweep National Monument, in the southwestern corner of Utah. A very stark setting with the mountains framing the site in the background.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I think all the roads leading in are of a similar nature. It is, of course, done deliberately to directly discourage only those not truly interested in seeing this wonderful place (meaning keeping out the old roadhogs driving battlecruisers through our national parks). For those who do brave the journey, it is, as you know, well worth it. ;-)

[stands2reason]

Satellite imaging helps uncover many of these road systems that can't readily be seen otherwise.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

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[elli1]

The corn they raised was probably similar to Hopi corn.

Speaking of corn...the first time I visited Mesa Verde (many moons ago), we were told that viable corn seed had been found in the ruins. At that time, there was a patch of corn growing that had resulted from the original find of seeds.

[TXBubba]

Thanks!

[Serb5150]

ping

[jwfiv]

Wow ... way cool ... thanks for the ping ... )

[Pelham]

For the life of me, I can't figure out why the site was selected to inhabit. You have to wonder how much food could be raised/hunted in this barren area.

Climate change. The fact that their settlement changed dramatically around 1300 fits with events in Europe.

[Wiseghy]

You may want to get those developed and digitized soon, by an expert. Negatives go bad over time, even when you can still "see" the image on the film.