Ancient Pueblo Indians or Anasazi

On the way home from New Mexico we stopped in Colorado to experience the land of the ancient Puebloian people (Mesa Verde National Park), Many people refer to them as the Anasazi but our tour guide made sure we understood the correct classification of these people. If you are in this area I highly recommend you spend some time to see this for yourself. We will give you a little tour of what we experienced.

Driving into the park we saw this very small cliff dwelling. We pulled over to the side of the road and took a quick image.The only way into and out of these ruins is scaling the cliff face. These people were excellent rock climbers and made little hand holds that helped them negotiate these treacherous accommodations. We quickly headed down the road in hopes to see larger establishments. More populated sites require a prearranged ticketed tour.

You cannot hike down to the village without going on a tour. They have a number of tours throughout the day for each site. It is important to arrive early so you can buy tickets at the information center. Optimal times to see the villages can go fast.

The first site was called the balcony house. After a short little hike, we arrived at the bottom of a 30 feet wooden ladder. I am a little leery of heights so it was nerve racking at first. You can see Richie and Lynne approaching the ladder.


Up Richie goes


Up goes Lynne... I was surprised how many old people just scurried up the ladder.


Once up in the village they showed us their water source. Our guide told us the mesa was formed by a receding ocean many years earlier forming large sandstone deposits. The water from snow and rain percolates through the sandstone until it hits a deposit of shale. Shale is made of finer particles that are closer together so the water pooled in various regions along the outcrops of the canyon. This provided the people with a reliable water source. The people in this region were successful for about 700 years.

You can see on of the little balconies these rooms share. We were not allowed in side the rooms but were able to look inside of a few. They were not very large compared to our modern homes.


Lynne and Richie stand below one of the support walls. In a few locations we were allowed to touch the rock. Our guide persistently asked visitors not to lean on the walls etc. and at each stop she needed to ask people to get off.

Our guide sat on her designated perch with Lynne and Richie listening carefully to the story of these people. We had people from all over the world (France, Germany etc.) in our tour group.

While Miss Tour Guide was talking, I looked through one of the windows and saw another room. You can see some smoke stains on the rock from fires built long ago. Fire was a very important necessity for these people. Snow falls in the winter, so fires kept them warm and they used it to cook as well.
These cliff alcoves most likely provided them with protection from enemies and the climate. It was very cool and comfortable standing in the remains of this ancient community. Miss Tour Guide is explaining what these large dug out circles are in their villages.

These kivas were used as special ceremonial locations for the communities. There were many of these towards the front (cliff) of their villages.

The people were small in stature but tough as nails. They stood about 5 feet tall and their connecting tunnels were very small. It was hard to fit through.
Here I am emerging on the other side.

Corn was a very important food item for the people. They would use tools like this to grind the corn. Grit from the stone tools stayed in the meal and was consumed causing their teeth to wear down quickly. Living into their forties would have been a huge fete. Above on the mesa they would plant the three sisters: corn, beans and squash. They cleared the land and worked these fields as well as killed prey like rabbit, deer and other animals.

Leaving entailed another climb up a wodden ladder and..

Lynne makes it to the top of the ladder without incident.

One more obstacle and we are safe. The rock had a chain and fence installed to protect weary visitors from falling.



Our next village was the largest in the area. It is believed that this was a center of commerce for the local area.Again we were allowed to walk along a foot trail below the city wall. To our right in the bushes and trees is where they threw all their trash. These dumping grounds provide archeologists with many artifacts disposed of by these people. Richie looks to his left and says, " now that is an oxymoron". Do you see what he sees?

Their stone work was very good. Here they are decorating the mortar between the stones.

We were told by Miss Tour Guide that Ancient Pueblo artwork would have been inside the rooms and on the walls of the village. We looked inside one of the rooms and up high on a wall we were able to see some of their work.

Well thanks for for reading and we hope you will be able to see the remnants of a truly remarkable culture.

BioPark New Mexico

Yesterday we went to the BioPark while Richie had team meetings and rested for his game. The four of us enjoyed the BioPark and got our exercise at the same time. After a rest at the hotel we went and watched Richie play soccer.

One of the first things we noticed were the beautiful water lilies. They also had a white variety along with many fish, bullfrogs and other invertebrates. Believe it or not tropical water lilies can reach about 6 feet across. I have seen water lilies as far north as Alaska.

Unfortunaly grandpa closed half of the BioPark by pulling the dragons finger. Who started the finger pulling thing anyway. Is this genetic or a learned behavior. Interesting question. ...

I love dragonflies, luckily it stayed put for a minute or two. These orange dragons are common throughout Utah. I like how it cocked its head just a little as to say hurray up will you I have flies to eat.

While in the kiddy section, Lynne frolicked on everything she could touch. Swinging from synthetic roots and fungal fruiting bodies.

Once we got Lynne calmed down we took a subterranean image of the three little kids. I need to remember not to give her sugar after 10:00 a.m.

While in the little kiddy section grandma found a large hymenoptera. Ants are in the family formicidae and are formatable prey. I came prepared to collect some insects but this one would not fit in my alcohol jar. Grandma chased it down and and subdued the large ant. This is a new species so we have the privilege of naming this New Mexico giant arthropod. We decided to call it Gigantis cephalomandibulm.

Once Gigantis cephalomandibulm was subdued grandma enjoyed the interaction with the large ant. As she dismounted G. cephalomandibulm the crowd began to chant..... ant whisperer....ant whisperer ant whisperer.....ant whisperer. The chant became louder and louder as the ant walked away humiliated.

Heather I thought of you as we walked under and through the large root laden caverns of the museum. Looking up over our heads was a large intimidating arachnid that spoke to me. "Where is the one you call Heather... I am hungry and want her sweet bodily fluids. Heather I want you to know I took offense to that. I carefully put down my camera on a nearby stump and climbed up exposed roots onto the trunk of the tree. Jumping on its back placed the rude arachnid in a choke hold until he took it back.

Coming out of the kiddy museum we walked around a giant pumpkin and into a bamboo forest. You can see the pumpkin in the background. Jimmy and the rest of my pumpkin competitors must know I spoke with the giant pumpkin in the background and it whispered to me tactics to use against you all. Just call me the pumpkin whisperer. It was nice to get many pictures of Lynne with Grandma and Grandpa.

From the kiddy museum we walked towards the cactus display. I have been fascinated with these plants since a young child. When we bought our home in San Diego the front yard was landscaped with many different species of Cactus.

Beautiful paddle cactus with buds and a flower. There are two bees in the flower gathering pollen. It appeared as though they were competing for pollinating privileges.

Deeply pleated stem of the Saguaro cactus will become smooth when rains falls on the desert ground. They use their stems to store water and for photosynthesis. A broad flat leaf would lose too much water and dehydrate in the intense sun. I love the interesting texture and patterns of cactus stems.

Check out these unique stems, spines and a beautiful flower. Cactus really invest in beautiful flowers to attract pollinators.

I call this the Mickey Mouse cactus. I remember multiple close encounters with this type. We had a plant on the left side of our cactus planter in San Diego. The little spine clusters look soft and fuzzy. They are soft and fuzzy but when you touch them many little spines embed into the skin. Grandma would help me pull out the little spines but I was lured to the false scence of security of the fuzzy texture. This happened a few more times. I am a slow learner. I can still hear the plant calling to me.... touch me... I am soft and fuzzy.

They did have a few board leaf desert plants in their collection. These plants deal with the heat and arid environments differently. They either have small leaves or lose their leaves during the hottest part of the year. Some can get away with very small thick leaves that are covered a sort of sunscreen. I thought this flower was unique as the female part or pistil was far beyond the petals.

Leaving the cactus display we stopped for a little break. The pond in the background has a potpourri of dragonflies. My only disappointment was no Gomphids.
We did observe the smallest dragonfly of my entomological quest. It was about only 1 inch long.

While Grandma and Grandpa were taking a little break under a grape ladened canopy I found this bush with many large hymenoptera. Lynne suggested I use a nickle to show you their size. It did not seem bothered by my presence.

My favorite exhibit was the butterfly enclosure. They had many different species to observe. These beauties are monarch butterflies.

I have never seen this species in person and was hard to photograph. It just would not sit still. Go figure..

Now this swallowtail did stay nice and still.

Here is another swallowtail. I looked hard for this image. It took a while to find one resting. They love to fly.

This is their pupal rearing case. They have the larva (caterpillars) in terrarium type containers with their host plants. After getting their fill the larva pupate and are carefully glued to the plastic pupal organizer.
Lynne put that net down you are not allowed to collect and pin these butterflies.

From butterflies to fish... Lynne almost gets her hand taken off by grouper door handles.

Can you say lots of fish sticks? Do they even make fish sticks any more???? and are fish sticks really made of fish???

I have read about giant clams but have never seen them in person. They have photosynthetic symbionst in their mantle tissue. That is what gives them a cool florescent color on their soft parts. I smell chowder...

From a safe distance jellyfish have always been intriguing and mesmerizing. Of course those unlucky enough to feel the pain of their stinging nematocyst might not agree. Australian Spotted Jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata) are one of the smallest I have seen ( 3/4 inch) The little spotted areas on their bell looked bioluminescent.

This is a large tank of Moon Jellies. The display was very dark and difficult to photograph. Watching these cnidarians was quite soothing as they slowly pulsed their primitive bodies propelling them up and down with the currents in the tank. Many visitors paused to look at fragile display of life.

Thanks for touring with us.... good night.