A nearby Discovery

  

The original plan was to visit an Indian site we had found a couple years ago along the Arizona Trail. However, we stopped about a mile up the dirt road and peered at a nearby hilltop. After both of us looked through the binoculars, we decided there were rocks piled by humans on the hilltop. Some discussion ensued, then the Kadizzlites decided to make an assault on the site. Some initial scouting indicated a way we could possibly make it to the top. No matter how we went it would not be an easy point to reach. As usual, the crew could not agree on a route to get there. Kadizzle chose to go down to the creek bottom and take the most direct route. The Commander insisted that her route was best even though it was a long way around.  With warm weather the rattlesnakes have come alive, and our hike was through ideal rattlesnake habitat.  Every step had to be taken with caution and each time you had a rock overhang the rattlesnake buzz was expected.  Fortunately none were encountered

45 minutes later the summit was reached.    Indeed, it was an Indian ruin, and a fairly large one. Many of the rocks in the walls were abnormally large for a ruin site, and must have taken many people to lift. The size of the site was much larger than what is normally found in this area. At least thirty rooms must have been in this ruin. It was a very defensive site with surrounding walls. Pelting attackers with rocks seemed to be the preferred defense. When attacked, you stood behind the wall and threw rocks down on your enemy.

Our first approach to the site seemed to indicate little pottery shards, but as we looked closer many were found. The Commander found some nice black on red, and black on white shards. A matate was found with the grinding stone. A pottery shard shown above with a carefully drilled hole was found. It may have been used for some sort of hanging pot.

All the sites we have visited in this area indicate the people were under siege. The question is who was attacking them? These people seemed to have outlying lookouts that could relay signals by fire to the main areas of inhabitation. If attacked, the people must have retreated to their defensive positions deep in canyons or on the edge of cliffs. In times of hardship, one group must have raided other groups. Much like the castle system in Europe, these people had their strongholds. Since these people always had the high ground you could be assured that rocks would rain down on you as the cost of attacking them. If you were the attacker, it would have been hard to throw a spear uphill, and your chances of hitting someone above you pelting you with rocks would be slim. If these people ever had been attacked, one would think there would be some arrow heads or spear points around. We have never found any. 

This site was in relatively good condition and all things considered not that badly picked over for a site within a mile of a paved road.  What has preserved the site is the difficulty getting to it.  We have been exploring these sites for years, and were surprised to find this one in such a close obvious place.  The Indians chose the site because it was inaccessible, and that is what has preserved it.