Let me take you on a short photo tour showing some gorgeous aspects of accessible, natural ruins on Cedar Mesa, Utah. We like to trek out-of-the-way places, shoot at Magic Hour, and return with dramatic images and enhanced memories of Anasazi and their cultural heritage.
Cedar Mesa, Utah
North of Mexican Hat and west of Blanding, Cedar Mesa was a canyon and ridge haven for Anasazi at different time periods before suddenly departing. Mesas and canyons, clear air, and that all most unlimited silence vast distances bring...
With due diligence, one can trek to private places Anasazi loved so deeply. I always feel a deep sense of awe when I see their ancient stone heritage. Each of the ruins is in a personalized environment, each contains such careful handwork, and each clearly shows how close the Anasazi were to our land.
With additional care, having explored a lonely canyon or climbed the steep intervening ridge, digital photography can capture indelible memories.
Magic Hour Capture
Deep, early morning canyon shadows, late afternoon low sun angles; when you shoot three to five photographs on tripod, after processing, these images create provocative memories. In this case, red rocks were used to build a tower on the distant canyon edge. In other cases, reds and gold’s of canyon walls color floors and roofs where truly splendid rock dwellings were hidden.
Trekking this ancient heritage, learning to think like an Anasazi, seeing the simplicity, yet elegance of such a lifestyle - all seem to bring one closer to this ancient land... teaching "How to think like an Anasazi...!"
Habitat
I love how Moon House is nestled along a bed of shale between huge cliffs. The Anasazi used these clays to make water jars. They weather proofed buildings against wind and cold with clay. Most buildings faced south; under towering ledges, they were shadowed during the day’s heat; in cold winter months, stone structures tried to catch every last Sun's ray.
As to water jars, there's a deep pool in the canyon below. To have water, they must fill jars and lug them up a series of clefts.
I can only guess where they farmed mesa tops.
In either case, they must have been world-class climbers...
Anasazi History
Cedar Mesa contains evidence of an intermittent Anasazi habitation for 1100 years from 200-1300 A.D., including Basketmaker II to Pueblo II/III styles. Various dominant living styles are found in an elevation range of 600 feet (6000-6600). Basketmaker II occupation was spread well across both mesa top and canyon. A unique environment, existing sites, and use of burial locations give this mesa top/canyon setting added importance in overall Basketmaker II settlement pattern. On the contrary, Pueblo III was mostly defensive canyon dwellings such as Moon House and the Citadel.
I sat there for a while, waiting on the rising Sun to illuminate Fallen Roof. When capture was complete, it was time to seek another ruin, sense the Anasazi another way, and continue the process of learning to think like an Anasazi!
Typical Ruin
Fallen Roof, Citadel, and Monarch all appear to be single-or-multiple family dwellings with three to seven windows. This structural type occurs frequently, both on Cedar Mesa and elsewhere.
A granary, for storage of corn and beans may be nearby. Or, it may be hidden somewhere for safety.
Each ruin needs to be near a water supply and a place for growth of corn and beans.
I'm amazed at each habitat also includes such sweeping beauty... between their architectural heritage and where they lived, it seems quite simple,
"The Anasazi were a people close to their land who deeply loved beauty...!"
Geologic Folds
In this part of red rock country, the Colorado plateau has many long geologic folds. A fold is a flexure of the earth; one side went up, the other side went down. Some of these folds are 50 to 100 miles long. All provide picturesque photography and unique habitats.
In Utah and Arizona, Anasazi were want to build in higher parts of such folds.
Monarch is almost like a quiet backwater. Yet, near sunrise, a cacophony of shadows, trees, and verdant plant life add to its amazing allure.
Monarch is another HDR capture (five shots, +/- 2 EV) processed in Photoshop CS4...
Enjoy...
Cave Towers
© Joe Bridwell
A small tower on a Cedar Mesa canyon edge. A larger ruin occupies a light region up canyon.
Magic Hour finds the setting Sun nearly at the horizon. High dynamic range (HDR) capture included the full color range, bringing the canyon out of shadows.
© Joe Bridwell
A small tower on a Cedar Mesa canyon edge. A larger ruin occupies a light region up canyon.
Magic Hour finds the setting Sun nearly at the horizon. High dynamic range (HDR) capture included the full color range, bringing the canyon out of shadows.
Cedar Mesa, Utah
North of Mexican Hat and west of Blanding, Cedar Mesa was a canyon and ridge haven for Anasazi at different time periods before suddenly departing. Mesas and canyons, clear air, and that all most unlimited silence vast distances bring...
With due diligence, one can trek to private places Anasazi loved so deeply. I always feel a deep sense of awe when I see their ancient stone heritage. Each of the ruins is in a personalized environment, each contains such careful handwork, and each clearly shows how close the Anasazi were to our land.
With additional care, having explored a lonely canyon or climbed the steep intervening ridge, digital photography can capture indelible memories.
Magic Hour Capture
Deep, early morning canyon shadows, late afternoon low sun angles; when you shoot three to five photographs on tripod, after processing, these images create provocative memories. In this case, red rocks were used to build a tower on the distant canyon edge. In other cases, reds and gold’s of canyon walls color floors and roofs where truly splendid rock dwellings were hidden.
Trekking this ancient heritage, learning to think like an Anasazi, seeing the simplicity, yet elegance of such a lifestyle - all seem to bring one closer to this ancient land... teaching "How to think like an Anasazi...!"
Moon House
© Joe Bridwell
A more significant Anasazi ruin. Multiple rooms, a Kiva, far up a canyon, protected both by towering bluffs and hard climbs... a somewhat larger ruin with several nearby structures.
© Joe Bridwell
A more significant Anasazi ruin. Multiple rooms, a Kiva, far up a canyon, protected both by towering bluffs and hard climbs... a somewhat larger ruin with several nearby structures.
Habitat
I love how Moon House is nestled along a bed of shale between huge cliffs. The Anasazi used these clays to make water jars. They weather proofed buildings against wind and cold with clay. Most buildings faced south; under towering ledges, they were shadowed during the day’s heat; in cold winter months, stone structures tried to catch every last Sun's ray.
As to water jars, there's a deep pool in the canyon below. To have water, they must fill jars and lug them up a series of clefts.
I can only guess where they farmed mesa tops.
In either case, they must have been world-class climbers...
Anasazi History
Cedar Mesa contains evidence of an intermittent Anasazi habitation for 1100 years from 200-1300 A.D., including Basketmaker II to Pueblo II/III styles. Various dominant living styles are found in an elevation range of 600 feet (6000-6600). Basketmaker II occupation was spread well across both mesa top and canyon. A unique environment, existing sites, and use of burial locations give this mesa top/canyon setting added importance in overall Basketmaker II settlement pattern. On the contrary, Pueblo III was mostly defensive canyon dwellings such as Moon House and the Citadel.
Fallen Roof
© Joe Bridwell
A single-family dwelling nestled under a towering bluff. The collapsing roof is a signature; would any Anasazi mother want her children playing in a front yard filled with big rocks? Like many other ruins, Fallen Roof is not easy to spot.
Yet, it's one of the most aesthetically pleasing ruins of the departed Mesa Verde culture.
Fallen Roof and the Citadel inhabit the same canyon in Cedar Mesa. When I was there, a family came along. The little boy eagerly climbed everything in sight; the little girl enjoy it her surroundings more.© Joe Bridwell
A single-family dwelling nestled under a towering bluff. The collapsing roof is a signature; would any Anasazi mother want her children playing in a front yard filled with big rocks? Like many other ruins, Fallen Roof is not easy to spot.
Yet, it's one of the most aesthetically pleasing ruins of the departed Mesa Verde culture.
I sat there for a while, waiting on the rising Sun to illuminate Fallen Roof. When capture was complete, it was time to seek another ruin, sense the Anasazi another way, and continue the process of learning to think like an Anasazi!
Citadel
© Joe Bridwell
Shot across a deep canyon looking north to Rabbit Ears. To the picture's left, a long difficult ridge is cut between two deep canyons providing protective insurance against intruders.
© Joe Bridwell
Shot across a deep canyon looking north to Rabbit Ears. To the picture's left, a long difficult ridge is cut between two deep canyons providing protective insurance against intruders.
Typical Ruin
Fallen Roof, Citadel, and Monarch all appear to be single-or-multiple family dwellings with three to seven windows. This structural type occurs frequently, both on Cedar Mesa and elsewhere.
A granary, for storage of corn and beans may be nearby. Or, it may be hidden somewhere for safety.
Each ruin needs to be near a water supply and a place for growth of corn and beans.
I'm amazed at each habitat also includes such sweeping beauty... between their architectural heritage and where they lived, it seems quite simple,
"The Anasazi were a people close to their land who deeply loved beauty...!"
Monarch Ruin
© Joe Bridwell
Verdant spring, small draw bisecting a long earth flexure, soft light; Monarch sits in lone majesty at the canyon head. Sharp shadows from rising sun enhance solitary beauty. Green bushes add point-counterpoint.
© Joe Bridwell
Verdant spring, small draw bisecting a long earth flexure, soft light; Monarch sits in lone majesty at the canyon head. Sharp shadows from rising sun enhance solitary beauty. Green bushes add point-counterpoint.
Geologic Folds
In this part of red rock country, the Colorado plateau has many long geologic folds. A fold is a flexure of the earth; one side went up, the other side went down. Some of these folds are 50 to 100 miles long. All provide picturesque photography and unique habitats.
In Utah and Arizona, Anasazi were want to build in higher parts of such folds.
Monarch is almost like a quiet backwater. Yet, near sunrise, a cacophony of shadows, trees, and verdant plant life add to its amazing allure.
Monarch is another HDR capture (five shots, +/- 2 EV) processed in Photoshop CS4...
Enjoy...
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