Mesa Verde National Park
Travel Blog 359: Tracing the Ancients
Always nice to wake up to a happy sunrise.
Tracing the Ancients
Our recent days were dedicated to diving into what the Four Corners is known for. Our campground was in easy travel distance to some of the best sites on the planet of the Ancestral Puebloans. Our good friend Donna was visiting and took part in our exploration.
Background
Here is a short background (right out of Wikipedia)
The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado. The people and their archaeological culture are often referred to as "Anasazi."
The Ancestral Puebloans lived in a range of structures that included small family pit houses, larger structures to house clans, grand pueblos, and cliff-sited dwellings for defense. They possessed a complex network that stretched across the Colorado Plateau linking hundreds of communities and population centers. They held a distinct knowledge of celestial sciences that found form in their architecture. The kiva, a congregational space that was used chiefly for ceremonial purposes, was an integral part of this ancient people's community structure.
Archaeologists continue to debate when this distinct culture emerged. The current agreement suggests their emergence around the 12th century BC.
The following map shows our main destinations.
Yucca House National Monument
Yucca House is very important from a scientific perspective, but not much to see, and a devil of place to find. If you decide to go there, follow the directions exactly as they are laid out on the Yucca House section in the National Park app.
Mesa Verde National Park
By far the best known (and maybe the most impressive) of the Anasazi is Mesa Verde.
Canyons of the Ancients
Just a few miles from our campsite is the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. A short trail with great views takes you up to Escalante Pueblo.
Lowry Pueblo
Jan and I have fond memories of this place, as we visited this site several years ago as a massive storm brewed. Here is the photo taken back in May of 2014 that inspired her to create a beautiful painting that she sold in Larkspur, Colorado.
Here are shots from our recent visit.
Hovenweep National Monument
A great way to get a great introduction to Hovenweep is to hike the two-mile trail that circles the canyon. Some parts of the trail are easy…
Some parts of the trail are not…
Interested in learning more about the Ancestral Puebloans? A great book is Craig Childs, House of Rain.
See you next time.