Hovenweep

Hovenweep is a National Monument highlighting six sites of the ancient Puebloans.  I was able to visit 5 of the 6 sites.  Usually sites on top of the mesa have deteriorated much worse than the cliff dwellings.  Some of these sites have been partially reconstructed, but mainly they are in their original state with only some stabilization.

This is the back view of the castle.  

Back in the 1930s when they first stabilized this ruin, they used concrete.  You can see where they stabilized the wall because the concrete is a different color.  Today when they stabilize a ruin they use materials and techniques that are similar to those used 700 years ago. 

Looking across the canyon, you can better see the massive structure of the Hovenweep Castle.

Standing in front of Tower Point Ruins.

Down in the canyon is Eroded Boulder House.  The ruins are built inside with double walls.  There are supposed to be some pictographs inside, but you are not allowed to climb through this ruin without a guide.

Not actually part of Hovenweep National Monument, this is Painted Hand Pueblo.  We stopped here because it is near one of the Hovenweep sites.  Painted Hand Pueblo is part of the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.  As you can see, this was a multi-story pueblo.

It is hard to see, but there is a painted hand on the back wall.

We found remains of walls all over the cliffs and canyons.

Max and Fancy are playing King of the Mountain (or rock actually).

Overlooking Cutthroat Ruins.

Cutthroat Ruins had ruins on top of the mesa, as well as underneath the cliffs below.

Part of the Holly Group Ruins.  Notice the rock has split and part of the ruins looks as if it is about to slide off the rock.  

More of the Holly Group, this square tower was built right on top of this rock.  Formidable, this tower is over three stories high and not easily accessible.

Even though the roof of this building is gone, there are still some of the supporting log braces which are over 700 years old.

This is the Petroglyph View at the Holly Group Ruins.  

Part of the Horseshoe Ruins.

Horseshoe and Hackberry Ruins were so close together, I'm not sure which was which.  These ruins were located at the end of a canyon, on top of the mesa.  It's amazing to remember these ruins are all over 700 years old, some as much as 800 years old and they are still standing.  I can't help but wonder how many of our buildings today will still be around in 800 years.