Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Weekly Photo Challenge: Weathered Wupatki
Weathered pueblos where Anasazi Indians lived almost 1000 years ago dot the landscape of Northern Arizona. The Anasazi are considered to be the ancient ancestors of today’s Pueblo Indians including the Hopi and the Zuni.
The largest pueblo in the area was Wupatki, which had over 100 rooms, a tower, and ball court.
It is believed that the Anasazi abandoned their ancient dwelling places by 1200 AD for reasons unknown. Still, the pueblos endure and we enjoyed visiting them recently at Wupatki National Monument.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
It would be amazing to discover why so many ancient civilisations apparently abandoned their societies, cities, and dwellings. Nice shots, Susanne.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks Pete. I loved seeing these beautiful structures out on the high desert plains of Arizona. The mystery remains as to why they were abandoned!
I’ve been there. Loved it! Hope you did, too!
Thank you! Yes, we loved it too!
Lovely photos with happy memories from my 1973 travels there!
Thank you! Northern Arizona is so rich in beauty and history, it’s a wonderful place to visit!
Great photos…do we know if they were abandoned or the inhabitants driven out?
Thanks John. It remains a mystery. They believe they moved on, but don’t know why. I’m amazed they could even survive in such a dry area, although they said there was a spring nearby that has since dried up. Maybe water was a factor? The region is filled with abandoned pueblos and other types of cliff dwellings.
I thought about it a lot when we were exploring that area. I imagine a change in growing season led them to move.
Could be. I really wonder about the lack of water too in such a dry barren land.
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Love your choice this week Susanne – some day I hope to see the pueblos in person, they’re amazing.
Thank you!
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