We've been tracing the Ancient Puelboan people from Chaco Canyon to Aztec Ruins, to Mesa Verde and now here, outside of Cortez, to the Anasazi Heritage Center. What a terrific place to see the ancient archeological artifacts, ruins, photos and stories about these peoples. 





Here's a number of photos showing the artifacts that have been collected. Notice the geometric patterns...something unique to them.










 

One archeologist wanted to see what it took to build one of the pithouses using the tools that they used. He said, "it took over 8,000 strokes with a stone ax to fell a single tree 11 1/2 inches in diameter"! Can you imagine. Here's his work.
 


 Afterwards, we climbed up a half mile to the hill above where there was an excavation of an old pueblo and kiva that we looked at....sort of the same as before but this time with a view.
 
   
 

We also drove about 28 miles NW to visit Lowry Pueblo. That'll have to wait 'till the next entry. More Puelboan ruins and kivas.