Ruins

During our month long stay in Cortez, Colorado we visited several ancient ruin sites.  In the Four Corners area there are over 4,000 historic ruin sites.  The Anasazi Indians built their settlements, between 550 and 1250 AD in this region.  As with many other ancient cultures of the Southwest, the Mesa Verde area was abandoned quite suddenly, around 1300 AD and it was not until the late 19th century that their settlements were rediscovered.

Our first excursion was to the Canyon of the Ancients where there is a Visitor's Center as well as some ruins.  Below is a preview of some of the magnificent ruins that we will visit.

Canyon of the Ancients Visitor's Center

A cool southwestern cat outside

Artifacts inside the Visitor's Center

A view of Sleeping Ute Mountain from the trail leading up to the ruin site.

We could also see Lake McFee fron the top of the hill.  The water was waaaay down this year.

Steve observes the surrounding mountains through the spotting scope.

Fascinating terrain.

Mountains backdrop the ruin site.

Gari surveys what is left of these ruins.

Steve circles around behind a kiva.

We took a ride down the road and visited the Lowery Ruin Site.  This is a self-guided tour area and we were able to explore inside most of these structures.

Steve checks out the information board.

Steve limbos through one of the doors.

He's in!

Gari gets some architectural shots inside the larger structure.

Steve exits the large structure.

Gari fits through the door with ease.

Gari reads the information at the Grand Kiva.  This kiva was five or six times larger than all of the other kivas that we observed.