I seem to remember as far back as Borregofest, Dave mentioned the ancient Cliff Dwelling destinations in the Indian Country Expedition. I knew this was a trip not to be missed. It was very apparent that this trip was a realization of many years of thought, research and planning. Dave, thank you very much! I will forever compare all future "Overlanding" trips to this expedition. My expectations were exceeded far beyond what I could have possibly imagined. Everyday was filled beautiful views, ancient artifacts, pictographs, petroglyphs, music and stories from our guides.
Driving into into our first campsite on the rim of Canyon de Chelley:
We visited more than six different ancient Anasazi Cliff Dwellings. These date back to the 1300's and earlier:
Ben Playing beautiful music for us on a Navajo Flute around our campfire:
Artifacts in and around the Cliff Dwellings were everywhere. Pottery Shards, corn husks and grinding stones:
When the Anasazi lived here, if a pot broke they'd throw it on the ground or over the cliff. On out hike to one location, we found pieces of pottery on the ground almost a mile away.
Throughout the cliff dwellings and other Anasazi ruins, were exquisite pictographs (painted on rock) and petroglyphs (scraped into rock).
I the five years that I have been doing this type of travel, the only other time I'd seen pictographs were in the painted cave in Santa Barbara and in a lava tube in the North of the Arizona Strip.
Dave:
Video of pictographs in ancient Anasazi cliff dwelling:
I wish I could have been on the net. I would have liked to have added to the conversation. I'll listen as soon as it's posted.
There is more I want to write about and post.
I keep thinking about this trip. I'd like to go again.
I bought the book "Anasazi America" at the end of the trip at the Navajo National Monument. A great history of the region.
Frank;
I regret not purchasing that book, but I made up for it today by ordering a copy from Amazon.
This was my third trip to the Navajo Nation, and by far the best. Every trip opens up new ideas for places to visit on the next trip. Keet Seel, Antelope Canyon and Chaco Canyon are but a few. Who knows, maybe there is a Navajo Nation Tour II on the horizon.
DaveK
K6DTK
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.