Throughout the region there exist numerous archeological zones. Frequently these consist of small remnants of past human occupation and little more. Our introductory horseback ride visits sites close to the ranch. Recently we decided to visit another site that is a little farther away - a couple of hours on foot. This site was mapped in support of Mel Aikens study and report Cultural Continuity in the Sierra Tarahumara of Southern Chihuahua, Mexico.
The site had been visited before but a detailed map had never been prepared. In the spirit of a more extensive description of the region that was prepared some years ago, interested individuals from Arizona and New Mexico gathered at the hotel July 7 - 10, 2003. Some prepared field surveying equipment and organized daypacks while others worked on adding to the butterfly and moth listings. Then we were off!
Arriving at the site, there was both excitement and disappointment. Several pictographs decorated the walls. Pottery shards and some bones lay on the ground. While the pictographs were in good shape, items lying on the ground had been previously handled and gathered up, most likely by curious locals. Unfortunately, this made their locations meaningless. Nevertheless the group set to work measuring and sketching. The intent was only to produce an accurate map so artifacts lying on the ground remained where they lay.
The weather cooperated that afternoon and spared the rain and the work went more quickly than planned. In a few hours it was over. We packed our notebooks, put away our tapes and instruments, and prepared to head back.
Little detailed knowledge exists about sites in this area. Archeological sites are known to exist in many places within the canyons. Perhaps the largest and best-known site is Paquime - a large and well-developed park just south of Nuevo Casas Grandes. Other anecdotal evidence surfaces from time to time as local people run across interesting places in their wanderings. Who lived there and when? For now, we do not know for sure.
 |
Numerous pictograhs decorate the overhanging walls. The colors still appear vibrant and relatively unchanged by time. |
 |
Obvious signs of occupation lay around. Previous visitors had gathered up many of the artifacts and in the process lost the value of their undisturbed locations. |
 |
This pictograph could represent the sun, or depending on when it was made, a supernova. Chaco Canyon in New Mexico has such a pictograph - could it be possible here? Without some dating evidence, we cannot know. |
 |
Although this jawbone was found, the rest of the skull is missing. |
 |
Traditional surveying with tape, compass, and inclinometer. |