Wednesday, October 19, 2011

THE Trip, Day Trip, LONG LONG Day Trip, Part 5, Anasazi Indian State Park

CABS for Reflections From the Fence


One of the original goals of the day's trip was Anasazi Indian State Park.  Goal was obtained and was so, so worth the effort and the time spent there.  When we first arrived we stepped inside the Visitors Center and had a chat with the lovely young lady minding the store.  She knew her stuff and was enthusiastic about the state park and in fact about all the National Parks in this corner of Utah.  She knew them all, personally.  She convinced us that we really really needed to make the effort to drive on to Capital Reef National Park, which was another 35 miles or so from Boulder Utah/Anasazi Indian State Park.

We stepped back outside and had a nice picnic lunch, gave the fur kids some food, drink and a potty break and after our little break, we went to tour the park.

Below:  living quarters.


Below, same shot, with Man peaking in the short doors.


From the state park web site, we learn, "This park shelters the ruins of an ancient Native American village, one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) communities found west of the Colorado River. Known as the Coombs Site, it is believed to have been occupied from AD 1160 to 1235 and may have housed as many as 200 people."


Below:  some of the connected living quarters rooms.  The roof is built to protect the delicate artifacts.



Below, a pit house, built in a large part, underground:


Inside the Visitors Center there is a really wonderful collection of artifacts and historical displays.  All the pottery shown below was behind glass, Sony fought glare and available light, but, I think we did ok.  Aren't they beautiful??  Below:  black and white mug, dated 1075 to 1275.


Below:  Middleton Black-on-Red bowl, dated 1050 to 1130.


Below:  Tusayan Black-on-Red pitcher, dated 1050 to 1150.


Below, I missed the description and time frame on this totally beautiful piece of pottery.


There was also a very nice collection/display of arrowheads made of a variety of materials, chert, quartzite, obsidian, agate and more.

We still had miles to go and another unplanned but exciting park to visit, so, we hit the road once more.  More beautiful scenery, will I ever get over it??  I hope not!



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1 comment:

Lisa Wallen Logsdon said...

Sigh! Awesome photos! I am going to have to do some research to come up with better words to describe my pleasure when viewing your blog, LOL!