Pueblo Bonito is the largest great house in Chaco Canyon. It has two great kivas and a whole bunch* of other smaller kivas and about 650+ rooms. Must have been something in the day.
*Sidetrail: "Bunch" is a highly technical term that refers to an undermined number of a particular item. It can be an educated guess, a mathematically derived estimate, or just a stab in the dark. In my case it's the latter because I can't remember how many there were. I probably could've found the answer in the time it took me to write this sidetrail.
Halfway through the Pueblo Bonito trail we found this little side trail that led to a tiny graveyard. Of course, Gracie had to investigate.
Grace and an unusual weathered rock.
There are at least three graves in the little cemetery. Two are those of Richard Wetherill and his wife Marietta.
We could barely make out the name on the headstone of the third grave, a Grace Etcitty, who died in 1923.
We don't know who she was, but Grace and I thought she had a pretty cool first name!
Stella helping Grandma Schmutz down some steps at Pueblo del Arroyo.
Just a few miles from Jared's are is Aztec Ruins National Monument. The name 'Aztec' was applied by the early settlers in the area. These ruins were probably built by the Chaco Canyon outfit and shows signs of later Mesa Verde influence. (Or so those who know these things say.)
Peg and the boys checking out the visitors center.
Notice the different styles of wall construction in the two walls. Examples like this are found throughout the great houses we visited, showing different ways of building during different eras. Remember, these places were occupied for several hundred years, with additions and remodeling going on all the time.
All in all, a good time (despite the heat and wind). Any time with family is a good time.
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