Canyons of the Ancients

Very busy day yesterday. We took a 5+ hour hike in Canyons of the Ancients, which is just out the back door of Kelly Place. I wanted to take Marie to see a couple of ruins that I'd visited several years ago. And, of course, I couldn't find them when I needed to. Finally, we came upon the ruin known as George Kelly's tower - Mr. Kelly was the original owner if Kelly Place and discovered and stabilized many of the ruins in and around his property. This tower was likely used for defensive purposes around 700 years ago to see enemies as they approached the pueblo. (If you look closely, you'll see the items that our grandkids sent with us on the trip - we're sending back photos of their toys as they accompany us to various locations.)

Next we found another tower or, more likely, a small residence. I say more likely because of the presence of numerous pottery sherds which shouldn't be present if this was just a sentry post. Archaeologists (and others in the know) know that the middens, or trash piles, of villages and individual dwellings reveal much about the residents and their way of life. These are usually situated downhill from the village, as the inhabitants simply threw their trash, including broken pottery, bones, etc into the pile. If the area was inhabited over several timeframes, as is often the case out here, the layering of the midden can tell a chronological story, as well. We had a great time spotting pottery sherds and tools, making sure to leave them in place so as not to corrupt their provenance.

Finally, I have to include a picture of my favorite plant out here, Mormon Tea. It's a very attractive plant that I'd like to grow at home (don't think it would survive), but the Native Americans would boil it into a tea or grind it into a poultice for medicinal purposes. Early Mormon settlers, who abstained from regular tea and coffee, drank the beverage made from this plant. Hence it's name. It's a form of Ephedra, so it's medicinal benefits are no mystery.

Comments

[J]

That topmost photo is definitely a keeper! Well done, John, on the composition and well done, Camera, on the exposure. The tower is perfectly exposed and the detail is terrific. Plus the dead tree is in exactly the right spot. (Looks like it was a lovely day too. No snow.) This might be the subject of another painting! Hmmmm!