We headed out for the day to find a herd of approximately 100 deer about which Vic had been told.
We didn't find the deer but, we came across a Mimbres Cultural Site where we explored.
Remains of their pithouses built after 550 A.D. are found on this bluff just above the Mimbres River floodplain.
These dwellings tended to be circular and dug to a depth of 3 feet. They were then covered with a dome-like frame of wood that was filled in with sticks and a heavy layer of mud for insulation.
Now there are just mounds. It appears to have been excavated or, at the least, scavenged by looters.
The trees in the distance line the Mimbres River.
The 'village' covers at least 100 yards on a side.
In early Mimbres burials a bowl was broken and the sherds were scattered on the grave.
In the final period a small piece was drilled into or broken from the bottom of the bowl which was then placed over the face of the deceased. This may have been to allow the spirit to escape.
"It is in the field of Black-on-white ware that the ancient Mimbrenos reached an artistic peak that has seldom, if ever, been surpassed in the medium of pottery."
Cooke's Peak - Pasaron Por Aqui
The Mimbres painted their pottery with geometric designs and figures of humans and animals, fish and insects.
There were birds of all kinds, frogs, toads, turtles and lizards, rabbits, snakes and other familiar local wildlife.
Somewhere between 1130 and 1150 A.D. these people disappeared.
Archaeologists have many and varied theories.
Vic found this rock that was possibly used as a tool, perhaps a hoe.
I mentioned the looters. Here are the remains of a litterer.
Too bad that all folks don't respect our land and it's wonderful history.
Was there really a need to drink beer here and leave the evidence behind?
Nearby, maybe 1/2 mile, we came across this cemetery.
There are 6 graves in this photo alone and maybe another dozen or so.
A private family cemetery?
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