Native Amer.

PASSPORT

To Our National Parks & Monuments

By David Hardy

Where Did They Come From...?

Where Did Go...?

For centuries archaeologists have tried to pin point the origin of man. As scientific methods improve, the beginning of man becomes earlier and earlier. What we do know for sure is, there were a lot of Native Americans on this continent to greet the arrival of the first "white man".

There are National Sites in just about every state attesting to this fact. You can see mounds, ruts, outlines, and museums. But the greatest concentration of early civilization ruins is found in the American Southwest. Here you can step back in time and sit in a Kiva or a cliff dwelling among the spirits of those who came before.

New Mexico - Land of Enchantment

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is unique in that it has three sites - each was a Spanish mission accompanied by a Indian settlement. The sites depict the vast cultural differences between the Spanish missionaries and the Native Americans during a time of great religious transition. Above are the remains of a wall at the Abo Mission. Visiting all the missions is a full day’s trip southeast of Albuquerque, NM.

The Anasazi Indians lived in the Southwest between the 9^th and 14^th centuries. The Aztec Ruins National Monument, outside of Aztec, NM, provides an accessible introduction into their culture. The site features an excellent visitors center, a large display of standing ruins and a reconstructed Kiva. This is a perfect place to whet your appetite for further ruins exploration

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is in northwestern New Mexico at the end of "forty miles of bad road". The drive is worth it!! Chaco Canyon was a center of the Anasazi Culture and contains eight cities plus an ancient astrological observatory. It is the largest cluster of ruins we have visited. The ruins feature several different styles of masonry work.

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Urban development, outside of Albuquerque, NM, is threatening the existence of Petroglyph National Monument. Wonderful examples of ancient Indian rock carving are abundant throughout the area. Presently, developers and preservationists are at a stand-off as to who will have the right of way through the park. We hope the ghosts from the past will win.

Colorful Colorado

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Mesa Verde is the best known Colorado Anasazi site. However, we enjoyed Hovenweep National Monument, which is one of the most isolated monuments in the Park System. It is located 43 miles west of Cortez, CO and is an excellent example of Pueblo Indian dwellings constructed around 1250 A.D. Pillage and vandalism at the outlying sites have led to their locations being removed from many maps. It took some sleuthing to find the Cajon Ruins above.

Arizona - The Land of the Rising Sun

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, pronounced "Shay", is a wonderful marriage of geological features (below) and ancient Anasazi ruins. The canyon is viewed from two rim drives and escorted tours of the valley are available from the Navajo Nation Headquarters. The Spider Woman formation (left) is the dominant physical feature and the White House ruins (above) is nestled under the cliffs on the canyon floor.

Every ruin contains some special feature. We loved the intricate rockwork forming the doorways at Wupatki National Monument north of Flagstaff, AZ. Just down the road is Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument with some beautiful views of a dormant volcano and lava flows.

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