We took a SAR field trip in May. Part of the focus was on what are called Chacoan outliers. These sites, which all have a great house with some similarities to the Great Houses in Chaco Canyon, can tell us things about architecture, trade, and culture. Our first stop was at Casamero
A wide range of pottery styles may be found at Casamero.
The walls aren't that impressive 900 years after they were built.
One of our guides, Tom Windes, has been doing outlier archeology for many years
Some of the dating is done by tree ring analysis.
Tom gave us an introduction to the site while we ate lunch. Casamero is near Prewitt and Grants in New Mexico.
To some people, these formations may look like the eyes of owls, hence the name Ojos de Tecolote mesa.
A stone tool
Typical wall construction
SPeculation about the kiva and its entrance.
As Tom Windes pointed out, this may be more an example of a "Good House" than a "Great House."
From there, we drove west and north towards Crownpont to stop at Kin Ya'a. A trail (or ancient road) runs past this site to Chaco.
The name Kin Ya'a translates--more or less--to "tall house" and you will see why in the next several photos.
More information about Kin Ya'a may be found here
This i the only feature on the nearby landscape and you don't realize how large it is until you climb on it.
Tom and some of our group discussing the site.
Patricia looking at the massive construction. There were 5 stories to this building.
I was really impressed with the construction where the walls came together.
You can't help but wonder why the site is where it is and what prompted the people who lived here to build it so massively.