Hello readers - it's been difficult to finish documenting the summer! We've been back in AZ for about a month and we are back to work and school in earnest. I want to get back to talking about the present at some point, so let me combine two amazing sites into this post to try and get through all of the amazing places left to write about!
These two sites are not close to each other and we visited them on different days. They were actually in two different directions from our campground at Ancient Cedars RV Park and were both approximately an hour drive one-way. Though we were camped in Colorado, these excursions took us back to Utah (Hovenweep) and into New Mexico (Aztec Ruins)! The four corners area is full of ancient archaeological sites.
The kids and I visited Hovenweep one day Husband was working. I have to admit that the rural drive gave me pause. As we drove further and further through the desert and passed very few other vehicles I had no cell reception and was hoping that we didn't have any emergencies! I don't know what I was worried about in particular, but when you are driving unknown roads with two young kids by yourself, the adventure can be a bit scary - just being honest.
Anyhow, we made it to the visitor center and it was a very hot day. While there are a number of sites to see, we opted to take the walk from the visitor center back to the Hovenweep castle to observe the sites along the canyon.
All along the walk evidence of a large settlement was visible. But the heat was brutal and we ran out of water pretty quickly so we didn't finish the hike instead we turned back to explore the visitor center, movie, and junior ranger book. Thankfully the ranger was very nice and willing to tell us about the sites. Brother and Sister both had good questions and because we were the only people in the visitor center for a long time we got to spend a lot of time chatting. This is one of the best parts of these smaller National Parks - no crowds and the friendly, available, and informative rangers. The rangers are amazing at all of the parks, but at those parks that are less visited, the rangers have more time to spend with you. We also found a nice picnic table in the shade and ate the lunch I packed. Its a good idea to pack food when you go to a National Park, because in most cases restaurants are few and far between. BTW, I love taking pictures of the kids in their vests when they are hiking...
We visited Aztec Ruins National Monument as a complete family on our last full day at Ancient Cedars RV Park. This park is at the mid-Northern part of NM and is a very small park which preserves a huge pueblo and boasts the largest reconstructed Great Kiva.
Aztec Ruins were not inhabited by the Aztec - this is a misnomer that stuck. This is another site of the ancent puebloan people. The site does have a really cool story about the archaeologist who excavated it and reconstructed the Kiva. He grew up playing in the ruins and later purchased the property and conducted his life's work there. The visitor center is in the building that was once his home. What makes this place unique is how intact parts of the ruins are and how visitors are allowed to walk through parts of the intact buildings.
Here we are walking through a series of subterranean rooms which have the original ceilings (floors to the stories above). Walking through these rooms one felt the sacredness of the space. We spoke in hushed tones despite being alone. There was a certain seriousness about these rooms. I don't know how else to describe it.
Here is a view of the building we walked through from the outside. Notice the small square "window" in the picture above - those are at ground level in the next picture.
There were also some really cool decorative elements in the design of the pueblo. Notice in this picture the darker rocks used to create a line across the front of the building. The rocks are actually green and were brought from afar (can't remember exactly where) for decorative purposes.
The pueblo is huge - here is one picture that tries to capture the size.
Finally, I want to share the amazing reconstructed kiva. For once I could really imagine this being the center of activity of the community. Having the building plastered and with the roof intact it is obvious this was an important place. What a treat to see one restored.
A special aspect of this Great Kiva are the many antechambers and windows overlooking the main room. The great circular disk near the pillars are those originally used to support the roof. Plexiglas is installed at various points in the kiva to allow you to view beneath the plaster. It was an exceptional experience. Here is a view from the outside.
Many modern-day tribes trace their ancestry to the ancient puebloan people. The movie in the visitor center highlighted some of these tribes and we heard in their own words why this place is special. I found it to be special, yet also somewhat sad. What truths did these people know that we do not? What was it like to live in this community around this grand kiva?
We loved this park and hope to visit again.
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