We wanted to take in the Aztec ruins as they have been the
best preserved of the many ruins in New Mexico.
These ruins were not made by the Aztec people of Mexico but by the
Pueblo people who inhabited the area between 830 and 1130AD. In fact, it the ruins that was responsible
for the name of the town. Early settlers
thought the ruins were made by the Aztec’s and named the town after them.
We started our tour of the ruins with a short film on the
Pueblo People and the ruins. It gave us
much greater perspective when we were walking the grounds. The area is not that large as only a small
portion of the village was excavated.
One of the more interesting aspects of the ruins was the recreated great Kiva. The Kiva was the central and most important feature of the village. It held ceremonial services’, it was the meeting place for the leaders as well as a community centre. This structure and the rest of the village was quite a feat at the time. The tools were very simple and the supplies (rocks and timber) were gathered and carried here from 20 – 50 miles away.
The Pueblo people left this area around n the late 1200’s and
nobody knows for sure why they left. It
could have been drought or religious or political issues. Apparently they moved south into the better
watered Rio Grande area and west into Arizona where their descendants live
today. However, this site is not forgotten.
Many southwest tribes, descendants of the ancestral Pueblo people of
Aztec, maintain cultural and spiritual ties to this site.
It was a nice visit.
AZTEC ARCHES
In the area surrounding Aztec there are 220 Sandstone
Arches. The Arches are located in small canyons
within driving distance of the town. We
had time after visiting the ruins to try and find two of them. The first and largest arch in the area is
simply called Arch Rock.
The second arch was in Cox Canyon and involved some
hiking. Not a good idea as it was 102
outside but we went anyways.
Idiots. This arch is considered
the most spectacular arch in the Aztec area mainly due to its 125 foot vertical
rise.
We had some trouble finding the trail as there were no
signs. The directions read park at the
base of the cliff and hike north. At
dead end, look for steps on the left.
Their definition and my definition of steps are not quite in tune.
We navigated the steps and carried on until we came to a
part of the climb that proved to be just too much. I got to the second level and was able to get
a closer look at the arches but that was it.
The path is where?????? |
You have to be kidding me.!!!!!! |
I'm getting too old for this crap. |
Do You where you are going????? |
The End, in more ways than one!!!! |
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