Monday, April 15, 2013

Wukoki, A Jewel in the Desert


Welcome to Wukoki.

If you have been following our blogs this past few days you may getting tired of seeing ancient Indian ruins... I know I am! But here is yet one more awesome treasure.

So stay with me and you'll see some amazing ancient work.  You'll see masonry done 800 years ago that is still standing today!


Wukoki, a modern Hopi word for "Big House" was once a home for two or three prehistoric Indian families.


The inhabitants are believed to have been of the Kayenta Anasazi culture, judging from the types of artifacts found during excavation ad stabilization.


The site, occupied from approximately 1120-1210 A.D. afforded its occupants a commanding view of the surrounding terrain.


The unusual three-story height, combined with its position atop this Moen-Sandstone outcrop, lends credence to the theory that may have been one of several central or "focal" sites for the Anasazi and Sinagauan People.


It is visible from a great distance and from many perspectives in this area.  Notice how they selected a huge elevated slab of sandstone for the foundation of this structure.



Three rooms are obvious today.


Others were probably present during the period of occupation. 


A plaza area on the Southern side of the flat sandstone surface was likely used for daily activities such as food preparation, pottery-making, and may also have been an area for children to play.


During mild weather it must have been a much more inviting place than the dark rooms of the pueblo.


I crawled thru this small doorway into the only fully contained room.


It was pretty dark inside, but with flash photography I captured this shot.  Notice the holes in the wall about seven feet off the floor where beams once carried a second story or loft in the room which would have been accessed with a ladder.


The only window in this room was about 12 inches wide by 3 feet high.


But the view out there is BIG.


I really loved this site... it truly is mind boggling to see this piece of work done about 800 years ago.


From here we went to see the last, the biggest... and in the best shape.

Shirley posted the afternoon photos of our last adventures in Indian ruins.  Click here to view her blog.

2 comments:

  1. This smaller of the two 'ruins' we saw on Friday was definitely my favourite too. I liked the setting...they were elevated in such a way to be able to watch for approaching 'traffic' and it appears to be a comfortable place to live. Dry with water close by; what more could a person ask for?

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  2. Beautiful masonry, indeed! What a setting.

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