2012-06-20: Hoop Dance
Tonight we went to the Cortez Cultural Center to watch their native dance demonstration. It was a one-man show put on by Norman Roach, a Lakota Indian. He played the flute, sang and did a good hoop dance.
2012-06-20: Round Dance
The entire audience was led in a round dance. Al and Lorraine danced while I was the official photographer.
2012-06-20: Photo Op
It's always fun to chat with the natives and have our photo taken.
2012-06-21: Cliff Palace
Mesa Verde National Park has some 5,000 preserved archeological sites that include about 600 cliff dwellings. Cliff Palace is in an alcove in the east wall of Cliff Canyon. Years ago we took the tour that took us right to the ruins but with the heat and my bad knees, we decided viewing from the top was good enough.
2012-06-22: Four Corners
Our destination today was Four Corners Monument, the only place in the US where four states ( Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado) meet. Not only can one stand in four states at one time here, but you can also visit Navajo vendors some of whom are demonstrating their art (sand painting, jewelry making among others).
2012-06-23: Anasazi Heritage Center
This pueblo-style museum includes a research facility with over 3-million artifacts, samples and documents that represent the Northern San Juan branch of the Ancestral Pueblo culture. Anasazi is a Navajo name for the agricultural people who lived in this area between about AD 1 - 1300. We were very impressed with the pottery exhibits.
2012-06-23: Lawry Pueblo
Lowry Pueblo is a 1,000-year-old Ancestral Puebloan village that is part of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. It was constructed around AD 1060 and inhabited for about 165-years.
2012-06-23: Kiva
There were four kivas with painted plaster in this pueblo that was discovered in 1930. We were thrilled to be able to actually go into this kiva. The kiva was used mostly by men for religious ceremonies.
2012-06-23: Outside
It is just an amazing feeling standing on the ground that was inhabited by the natives so many years ago. It's also remarkable how much of the structures remain for us to enjoy today.
2012-06-23: Hovenweep
One has to wonder why these structures were built atop Cajon Mesa in this high desert region. No one has lived here for 700 years but the structures like twin towers remain for our enjoyment. Surprisingly, these natives became farmers and grew corn, beans, squash, a grain called amaranth and even cotton in this area. There is evidence of their also living in Little Ruin Canyon below this mesa.
2012-06-23: Buffalo
We were surprised to come around a corner on our way home and find buffalo grazing.