Bandelier National Monument

It might have been a little cool, but the sun was bright.  Basically it was a beautiful day to visit Bandelier!  (Sunday, February 1)

I knew Bandelier from the archaeomagnetic samples that we had in Dr. DuBois' archeaomagnetic dating lab at the University of Oklahoma.  Doc had visited Bandelier several times during their investigation periods during the 1960s and 1970s.

There are several theories about the settlement of the Frijoles Canyon area where Bandelier is located.  It is well recognized that the Frijoles Canyon with its constant flowing stream served as a camp and/or planting for the roaming groups before the BasketMaker culture.  As my own Master's Thesis area was Chaco Canyon, I have my opinion as to the origin of the "permanent" inhabitants.  As it appears that the Frijoles Canyon started being "permanently" settled around AD1150, I agree with the thoughts that the inhabitants who built the circular pueblo and the pueblos along the Bandelier Tuff cliff were immigrants from the Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, etc. areas.  As the climate changed in the western area, the Ancient Ones moved further east and southeast, eventually becoming incorporated into the Pueblo Indians who live along the Rio Grande River rift.

The Ancient Ones discovered that a certain layer within the Bandelier Tuff was easy to carve, excavate, and form into bricks.  As one project, they used bricks of tuff to build a circular pueblo with three kivas.  However, against the tuff cliff, the Ancient Ones carved rooms and caveates, then built long pueblo-type structures in front of the cliff.

This is such a great place to explore!

The pueblo from the cliff face.

Maureen in doorway of carved room.

Standing on the bridge above Frijoles stream.

Bandelier Tuff cliff from base of bridge.  Notice the carved rooms

 and the carved log supports in cliff face, plus the reconstructed

pueblos at the base of the cliff.

Face of Bandelier Tuff cliff from across the stream.