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Chaco Culture NHP - Hungo Pavi
Date Added: 29th May 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 25th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Chaco Culture NHP - Hungo Pavi submitted by bat400 on 27th May 2012. The interior of a room in the northeast corner of the complex. The ground floor room is almost completely filled with shifted sand and earth. The second floor room above it is marked by the line of secondary beams below it.
Photo by bat400, April 2012.
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Log Text: None
Chaco Culture NHP - Chetro Ketl
Date Added: 29th May 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 26th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Chaco Culture NHP - Chetro Ketl submitted by bat400 on 27th May 2012. The Great Kiva of Chetro Ketl. Aside from the missing roof and plaster, this is possible the finest preserved Great Kiva in the southwest.
Photo by bat400, April 2012.
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Log Text: None
Chaco Culture NHP - Casa Rinconada
Date Added: 29th May 2012
Site Type: Ancient Temple
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 26th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4
Chaco Culture NHP - Casa Rinconada submitted by bat400 on 27th May 2012. In this view you can see the stone bench around the base of the interior wall, the many niches, and the room structure outside the kiva on the north side of the building.
Photo by bat400, April 2012.
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Log Text: This Great Kiva is isolated from the Great Houses themselves and sits on a natural rise across Chaco Wash from Pueblo del Arroyo, Pueblo Bonito, and Chetro Ketl. All of these Great Houses are clearly visible from the ridge where Casa Rinconada was built. You can walk completely around the building and into a portion of the northern antechamber.
You walk up a clearly marked trail from a parking area/trail head. Several small pueblo communittees lie to the north and east of the great kiva. You can visit them as well.
Chaco Culture NHP
Date Added: 12th Dec 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 25th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Chaco Culture NHP - Pueblo Bonito submitted by bat400 on 25th May 2012. Pueblo Bonito Great House, taken from the cliff edge directly north of the site. Photo by bat400, April 2012.
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Log Text: The park is must see for anyone visiting northwest New Mexico. However, the park is in a remote area, with minimal services. (In my opinion, this is part of the experiance.)
Be sure to review the park website to properly prepare for your trip. Camping at the park and extending your visit for several days would have many rewards, but all the major sites along the paved driving loop can be visited in one long day. If you are at all fit, take one of the "back country" trails to visit one or more sites on the mesa tops surrounding the canyon and "Downtown Chaco".
Park ranger tours are available at the main sites several times a day during high season, see the website for the National Park. Inexpensive guide books are often available as you enter specific sites, or from the Visitor's Center. Wheel chair access is possible for portions of the walking trail at Pueblo Bonito, but even there the path is sand or gravel, not paved. Large chair tires or an assistant would be necessary.
Note: A sturdy passenger vehicle is adequate to cross aproximately 13 miles of unpaved, washboard roads to reach the park itself. No not use a vehicle with "low profile" tires, and call for road conditions during the winter or following any periods of rain. Locals take the dirt road at speeds that you would not think possible, and actually reaching speeds of 45-55 mph will reduce the severe impacts as your car's shock absorbers dampen out the input frequency of the roadbed. (Try this, but remember that you MUST slow on curves, when coming on rises, or whenever visiblity is degraded. Otherwise you will slide off the road or strike other vehicles or livestock.)
Cerro Sechin
Date Added: 8th Oct 2018
Site Type: Ancient Temple
Country: Peru
Visited: Yes on 3rd Sep 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Cerro Sechin submitted by sophs74 on 22nd Aug 2011. Carvings of a gorey prehistoric battle adorn the walls at Cerro Sechin, warriors wielding stone axes are depicted decapitating their enemies, disembodied body parts and streams of blood are carefully carved to show what a fearsome fighting force they were, Sechin Bajo, Casma, Peru... easy to reach from town, a short walk / motorbike taxi ride, great onsite museum where guide can be hired to take one to less accessible / lesser known local antiquities.
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Log Text: "Cerro" is the actual hill immediately behind where this structure was built. A path along the hillside above the building was described by our guide as being a modern structure meant to prevent erosion and landslides, but I'm not certain that this wasn't a translating error on our part.
A common theory about the building is that incised slabs of warriors and the dead were put into place as a combination of a warning to those who might oppose the Sechin power and a statement of triumph over their enemies. The depictions of dead (sacrificed?) include streams of blood flowing from missing eyes, severed heads and limbs. Combined with the slightly cartoonish presentation, I found this to be one of the more unsettling depictions of ancient violence I've seen at ancient sites, which is saying a lot.
Nearby there are half finished slabs of stone with similar engraving, but all of them have either flaws in the stone itself or actual errors in the carving (misplaced facial features, asymmetries, or just plain ugly) and appear to have been abandoned midway through the process.
A small museum is on site as well, with textiles, ceramics, and human remains from a burial. Several hairless Peruvian dogs live here in the outside area.
Castalian Springs Mounds
Trip No.3 Date Added: 28th Apr 2017
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: United States (The South)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jul 2006. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Bledsoe's Lick Mound submitted by bat400 on 29th Jun 2006. The Mississippian platform mound at Castalian Springs, Sumner County, TN (formerly Bledsoe's Lick.)
The conical mound with a flattened top was built on the west end of a broad rectangular platform. The structure is much reduced by plowing over the years. However, the ground has been undisturbed for a number of years. The property is now owned and protected by the state.
Photo by bat400, June 2006.
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Log Text: I visited in 2006 while the Middle Tennessee University was conducting a dig, not of the mound itself, but of the footprint of several buildings which were visible from the traces of postholes and (to less evidence, walls.) Very interesting. Meet Dr. Smith, who was very gracious with his time and explanations.
Casa Grande - Village
Date Added: 13th Sep 2010
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jan 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 5
Casa Grande - Village submitted by AlexHunger on 25th Mar 2005. Casa Grande
Coolidge, Arizona on Ruins Drive.
Side House 1 West of main house. about 1 Meters high. Hohkam Culture. Inhabited ca 1,000 to 1,300 CE. Discovered 1,694 CE by Spanish Priest. Thought to be abandoned due to climate change. Made of "Caliche" dried mud. N32.99452, W111.53743, Elevation 427 Meters.
There are about 40 platform mounds in the Phoenix/Tucson area. Further north there are cliff dwelings, belonging to a different culture.
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Log Text: None
Casa Grande - The Great House
Date Added: 13th Sep 2010
Site Type: Ancient Palace
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jan 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 5
Casa Grande - The Great House submitted by AlexHunger on 25th Mar 2005. Casa Grande
Coolidge, Arizona on Ruins Drive.
As seen from South. Hohkam Culture. Inhabited ca 100 to 1300 CE. Discovered 1694 CE by Spanish Priest. Thought to be abandoned due to climate change. Made of "Caliche" dried mud. Very fragile, therefore protected by roof.
N32.99426, W111.53780, Elevation 4e27 Meters.
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Log Text: None
Caral
Date Added: 6th Nov 2018
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: Peru
Visited: Yes on 31st Aug 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 5 Access 3
Caral submitted by sophs74 on 22nd Aug 2011. Archaeologists lunch break at Caral, Peru
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Log Text: A wonderful and astonishing place. Caral is surrounded by hills on all sides; the entry to the site is generally along the Supe River coming from the coast and the Pan-American highway. For late August we were very lucky as the dense coastal overcast broke the afternoon we were there and held off until the sun began to set. Once away from the river valley itself the Peruvean coast is arid and the pyramids of Caral exist in this stark landscape.
Walkways and signage (with substantial English translations from the Spanish) are what a western tourist would expect, although trained local guides are provided, and I believe, required. The tourist route is a circuit of the ceremonial plaza surrounded by the stepped pyramids. At each pyramid there is a sign displaying major artifact finds at that building. You cannot climb up into the structures.
I am uncertain whether one can walk into the western portion of the site, where most residential complexes were built (but these would be generally much less interesting, I would think.)
There is an open air museum near the parking area / site entrance with artifacts and replicas in cases and many displays explaining Caral and what is known about its culture.
We visited Caral as part of a 9 day tour of archaeological sites in Northern Peru through WH Tours. Ask me about them - they are great.
Canyon de Chelly - White House
Date Added: 17th Feb 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jan 0000. My rating: Condition 2
Canyon de Chelly - White House submitted by bat400 on 10th Sep 2006. Canyon de Chelly - White House Ruins, Apache County, Arizona.
This Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) ruin was built and occupied between 1060 and 1275 AD. The photo is taken from the canyon rim opposite the site, but there is a trail that leads to the ruin.
Photo by bat400, June 2003.
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Log Text: None
Canyon de Chelly - Mummy Cave
Date Added: 28th Feb 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 1st Jun 2004. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 2
Canyon de Chelly - Mummy Cave Ruin submitted by bat400 on 10th Sep 2006. Canyon de Chelly - Mummy Cave Ruins, Apache County, Arizona.
I thought this was the most amazing site we could see from the canyon rim. This photo was taken from a vantage point west of the ruin.
Photo by bat400, June 2003.
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Log Text: I saw the ruin from an overlook to the west. You may only approach the ruins with a Navajo guide. There is no access directly into the ruins themselves.
Cahokia - Woodhenge
Trip No.2 Entry No.9 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2017
Site Type: Timber Circle
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 4th Aug 2007. My rating: Condition 1 Ambience 3 Access 4
Cahokia - Woodhenge submitted by bat400 on 4th Aug 2007. Cahokia - Woodhenge, Illinois. A central cedar post stood within the circle of 44 posts. Photo by bat400, June 2007.
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Log Text: None
Cahokia - Stockade
Trip No.2 Entry No.7 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2017
Site Type: Misc. Earthwork
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2007. My rating: Condition 1 Ambience 3 Access 4
Cahokia - Stockade submitted by bat400 on 10th Jul 2007. View of the stockade reconstruction from the top platform of Monk's Mound. We are looking east toward modern Collinsville. It's difficult to see with the overcast light, but there are the faint undulations of multiple mounds in the field beyond the stockade line. The stockade reconstruction is built on the original location. Two open archaeological units are part of summer digs.
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Log Text: None
Cahokia - Powell Mound
Trip No.2 Date Added: 9th Apr 2017
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jul 2008. My rating: Condition -1 Ambience 1 Access 5
Log Text: None
Cahokia - Museum
Trip No.2 Entry No.2 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2017
Site Type: Museum
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 4th Aug 2007. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5
Cahokia - Museum submitted by bat400 on 4th Aug 2007. Cahokia - Visitor's Center and Museum, Illinois. When the center was built the post holes and building footprints of multiple small houses were revealed and completely excavated. The size and orientation of these homes has been recorded in a painted image on the paved areas around the building. Inside the museum several buildings' footprints have been incorporated into the museum displays. Photo by bat400, July 2007.
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Log Text: None
Cahokia - Mounds 30 and 31
Trip No.2 Date Added: 9th Apr 2017
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jan 2007. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Log Text: None
Cahokia - Mound 72
Trip No.2 Entry No.4 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2017
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 4th Aug 2007. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Cahokia - Mound 72 submitted by bat400 on 4th Aug 2007. Cahokia - Mound 72. This burial mound was originally described as a rectangular mound with a sharp ridge running down its center. The shape now is the result of several excavations that took place before the 1960's. The contour of that last dig has been recreated. Photo by bat400, June 2007.
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Log Text: None
Cahokia - Mound 66
Trip No.2 Entry No.10 Date Added: 30th May 2017
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 1st Jul 2008. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2
Log Text: From aerial photos this is one of the larger mounds at Cahokia. And although it is not on an easily accessible footpath, it can be seen from Forest Blvd., south of the modern Cahokia park. It lies at the southern boundary of the city proper and is 430' by 170' (east-west by north-south) and 25-30 feet high.
In the early 1900's a raised road or causway could be seen extending north from this mound toward the central area of Cahokia. The causeway was more recently confirm by Lidar imaging.
The mound was excavated in the 1920's and a great unfilled trench through the mound can still be seen. This excavation was performed because it appeared that expansion by the nearby rail road was scheduled to completely level the mound. This did not occur.
The mound had been used for burials: both the ancient people of Cahokia and the more recent French colonists.
Cahokia - Mound 60
Trip No.2 Entry No.6 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2017
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2007. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Cahokia - Mound 60 submitted by bat400 on 10th Jul 2007. Fox Mound (Mound 60) and Roundtop Mound (Mound 59). These "Twin Mounds" are located at the southern edge of the huge central plaza bounded by Monk's Mound on the north. The view is from Monk's Mound.
bat400. 23 June 2007.
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Log Text: None
Cahokia - Mound 59
Trip No.2 Entry No.5 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2017
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: United States (Great Lakes Midwest)
Visited: Yes on 4th Aug 2007. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Cahokia - Mound 59 submitted by bat400 on 4th Aug 2007. Cahokia - Mound 59, Illinois. Also called "Roundtop" Mound. Photo by bat400, June 2007.
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Log Text: None