Another in depth travel and information guide. In this one we trace the progress of the first Native Americans starting 23,000 years ago with Human Foot Prints next to Mastodons! We then see early pit houses and 21,000 rock carvings. We visit a lava field where tools could be made before heading to Chaco Canyon- center of power from 800-1250, and its magnificent multi-story stone buildings with up to 600 rooms. We'll learn why they were made based on PhD Steve Lekson's research-- hint they are palaces! After Chaco's decline the site in Aztec New Mexico became the power center. There we enter their superbly reconstructed great Kiva- the best in the southwest!
Then we see the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park and Bandelier which were occupied till about 1300.
Then, we go to Acama Pueblo which is the oldest continually occupied settlement in the US. I meet a native wearing his prized Washington Redskins cap. In the Four Corners we visit Hovenweep in Utah- to see the finest stone work of the age. Then, we head south to Arizona and Canyon de Chelly for hike to Whitehouse Ruin. Around 1300 many 4 Corner sites were abandoned.
Perhaps its not a coincidence the population near the Rio Grande grew. Near Albuquerque, we explore an adobe settlement visited, and possibly sacked, by Coronado in 1540. In 1621 the Spanish forced the Pueblo people to build a church at Jemez- its still in fine shape. The Spanish began an unhappy chapter, but things got worse after 1848 when the area was ceded to the USA. in 1851 the US built a Fort along an old trade route called the Santa Fe Trail. It seems a fitting place to end our Road trip.
26 янв 2024
