Perspective.

On a day when the news was terrible we were fortunate to visit an ancient site, Palatki, where a variety of peoples have lived over many eras.  It allowed me put things into the perspective of centuries and that helped.

It is an interesting site with several pretty well preserved cliff dwellings which are remnants of the last inhabitants, thought to be ancestors of the Hopi - though the Apache had a presence there too.

 
The lintel in this photo is original and has been dated back to 1020

 A view from the site

 Some artifacts the docent passed around

 Beyond the dwellings there is an agave roasting pit, and a lot of pictographs and other markings - going all the way back to Clovis it is thought.

 

  AN Unmarried Hopi girl with hair braids on the side of her head.

 

Thought to represent the sign for the Cloud People

And there is an incredible feature - a doorway into another world - s site which is still revered by the Hopi.  Some of the marks on the edges have been made is recent times by visiting Hopi Shamans.

A bit closer


 

 looking deep into the doorway where light shines through...

Below: This is most likely a solar calendar  - according to the docent, who was excellent, the little nubby markings near the center of the wheel are where  the sun casts a shadow a week before and after the equinox which would translate to times to plant and to have the harvest in - there was more to it than that, but details were lost as I was enveloped in the totality of the site.  

pro tip: this part of the site is not on the regular tour - it needs be requested when making reservations - ask to be put on the 'pit tour' which they will make no promises of - but most often do first thing in the  morning.

 Shelley giving perspective to the calendar.

 Thought to possibly be another calendar  showing the notches in the canyon wall and points where the sun rose - also a figure  from another era beneath

 Bernice, who has gone home today, examining a plant along side the trail between the various panels.

 The site is in as pretty, or perhaps stunning a canyon as I have seen.