Wednesday
Atsinna, El Morro and Inscription Rock, all three of these places are the same geographical location, but separated in time and culture. Atsinna is the Zuni Puebloan name for the village built on the top of the mesa, El Morro is its Spanish name and means The Headland and Inscription Rock is the name given to it by American travelers after they saw the many carvings that cover the headland walls (and added their own). El Morro is a sandstone mesa, which means it is a hill/mountain with very steep sides and a flat top. The top is longer than the sides are high, so it is a mesa. The other way round is a butte (my definition). They are often inaccessible, frequently described as an 'Island In The Sky'
Situated out in the desert, away from any river, El Morro's importance lies in a small pool at the base of The Headland which collects run off rainwater from El Morro, protected from evaporation by the surrounding rocks the pool is about swimming pool size, holding some 200,000 gallons of water and has water all year round.
The presence of water in the desert meant that it was significant to all who passed that way and so is a reflection of the history of this area.
There are three main groups of people who used this pool. The Zuni Puebloans (1200 - 1350), The Spanish explorers and settlers (1540 - 1780) and the American Immigrants (1846-1881) travelling to California.
I took off early this morning to walk the trail up onto the El Morro mesa, to see the Pueblo village (Atsinna) up on the top. built around 1275.A.D.(?) it is a building with 395 rooms, though very few of them remain, still it was a pleasant walk, including the somewhat narrow and precipitous path onto The Headland, in an increasing wind. Some lovely views of the surrounding area, which is very dry, with many Junipers Also saw an American Kestrel, which was very nice.
1 comment:
Glad you enjoyed it and also got up to top - worth the effort
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