Yes, another mini-trip.....if the blog posts have been a bit more infrequent lately, this is why; I'm too busy cavorting about the southwest with my family on the weekends to do much writing or pontificating.
Anyway we hit the Flagstaff/NE Corner of Arizona this weekend, visiting the Homol'ovi archaeological site, Bearizona animal preserve in Williams, The Grand Canyon (south side), Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monument, and a final return trip through the Navajo Reservation, where along the way we checked out dinosaur footprints in fossilized clay deposits from the end of the Jurassic, according to my wife (who made a big friend in our older Navajo guide who was also an aspiring wanna-be paleontologist).
Wupatki is one of my favorite sites, part of an 800 year old complex of Kayenta Anasazi who chose their location for (among other reasons) an impressive blowhole which comes from a natural crack into a deep moisture-filled cave, releasing intensely cold natural air conditioning into the area. It also has an unusual kiva-like structure (which is missing certain common features seen in all other kivas) and a nicely reconstructed ball court (one of 200 in the Arizona/New Mexico area). It also had evidence of trade with northern Mexican traders including macaws and copper bells.
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| Wukoki |
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| Wukoki |
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| Wupatki's sister site Wukoki |
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| Wupatki "kiva" |
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| Wupatki "kiva" |
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| Wupatki Blow Hole |
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