From Zion National Park in Utah, we traveled to the southwestern corner of Colorado to explore the incredible number of Puebloan Ruins scattered throughout Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, and Hovenweep National Monument.
Traveling
On our way to Mesa Verde we stayed again at Gouldings in Monument Valley. It was just as beautiful the second time.
We drove through Four Corners and couldn’t resist stopping to stand in 4 states at once.
Dolores, Colorado
We stayed at the Circle C RV Park. They had large sites, 50 amp service, high water pressure, sewer, and good internet. The town of Dolores is small. We intended on checking out the food scene, but after going to Dolores River Brewery, we kept going back. Loved their craft brews, pizzas, and stuffed portabella salad. There was a social regular local crowd everyday at the bar.
One of our biggest struggles is finding recycle containers. Most RV parks don’t recycle. We can usually rely on a National Park to have receptacles!
Mesa Verde National Park
About AD 550, Ancestral Pueblo people (Anasazi) moved into the area and stayed for about 700 years. In the late 1200s, they left their homes and moved away. Its speculated that prolonged drought, depletion of natural resources, and internal strife led to their migration to Arizona and New Mexico.
Before they were Cliff Dwellers, the Ancient Pueblo people built homes in the ground called Pit Houses. They hunted deer, rabbit and turkey. Corn, beans and squash were cultivated. They made baskets and pottery, and traded with others. Over time, their masonry skills improved and they built houses 2-3 stories high. There was always a Kiva, which is a round chamber used as a gathering place, usually underground.
Each family lived in several rooms. Overtime, they built their homes in the cliffs. It’s only speculated that the cliffs provided better shelter and defense, or maybe they just wanted a better view.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
The Monument encompasses 170,000 acres. Humans have been in the area for 12,000 years. Ancestral Puebloans occupied the area from AD 750 toAD 1300.
The Visitor Center had an incredible exhibit about the history, artifacts, life and art of the Ancestral Puebloans.
Spanish explorers including Escalante, looking for a route to the California missions stopped in the area and named the Dolores river.
Hovenweep National Monument
Their masonry skills were remarkable. There was a nice trail that went around the canyon rim. Numerous towers were still present. It’s believed that they built along the canyon to protect their water supply.
Penstemon and Antelope Bitterbrush were flowering.
Anise Swallowtail butterfly at about 8000 feet. It was only 42 degrees outside, so the butterfly was soaking up the sun and could hardly move let alone fly!
