The
Anasazi occupied most of the Colorado Plateau for 1200 years up to 1350 A.D. The
culture was sophisticated and mysteriously vanished about 700 years ago. The
reasons for this disappearance are still not totally understood. Most theories
finally conclude the Anasazi overpopulated the Plateau and exceeded the land's
sustain-ability. Changing weather-patterns and a severe drought in the 14th
century finally forced the Anasazi (Navajo for "The Ancient Ones") to move to
regions to the south.
Practically every canyon in the
area was inhabited by the Anasazi. This site was discovered in an unremarkable
area east of the park and upon closer inspection, reveals remarkable examples of
the techniques and materials used by "the ancient ones".
A late spring evening view of the
ancient Anasazi (The Ancient Ones) ruin.
The roof section of this ruin
has been completely restored by Bureau of Land Management archeaologists and the
interior of the kiva is accessible to careful, reverent
visitors.
The Kiva was used in a variety
of Anasazi rituals and ceremonies and was a common area for everday
meetings.
The Kiva was used in a variety
of Anasazi rituals and ceremonies and was a common area for everday
meetings.
