Ancient Ruins

When I hike on the White Cliffs, it always amazes me when I come across sea shells. They say this area was once under an ocean. I have a hard time imagining it when I look out across our vast high desert landscape, but those sea shells do a very good job of convincing me.

The same amazement comes over me when we visit Mesa Verde or Chaco Canyon. Seeing

those dwellings that once were home to thousands of people makes me look at our area in a different way. Long before we started to write our history, another history had already been made.

Before the pipes that are going to bring water to Gallup from the San Juan River are put into the ground, surveying must be done. Part of the job is to make sure none of the pipes disturb ancient settlements. That is when the surveyors for the Gallup Land Partners discovered an 800 – 900-year-old ruin right next to town. Don’t worry, this site is not near our much-needed water source and is in no danger of the pipe path.

It doesn’t surprise me they found a ruin. Just do a little bit of exploring in our area, and it doesn’t take long to come across what seems to be old ruins. The surprise is when you have professional archaeologists who can explain a little of what you are looking at.

This site was home to a small family. It is believed that they did farming in the small valley they lived in. Their diet consisted of the crops they grew and small game. The archaeologists did not find any evidence that they killed any big game animals. Small tools were uncovered, a grinding stone and a piece of azurite. When I hear this description of the homesite, I can imagine these ancient people making a home here.

Get out and explore! This area is filled with secrets of the past.