Rio Rancho, NM and Aztec Ruins

A stop in Rio Rancho just outside Albuquerque to visit friends we met while at Desert Trails in Tucson.  Tucson is happy to be free and play with their dog Kenzie

They have a beautiful home and were very gracious hosts.  We had a delicious dinner of BBQ Ribs and Waffles for breakfast.  We threaten to not leave.

 A beautiful veranda overlooks Albuquerque in the distance.

 A large flock of vultures was circling above.

Another set of friends arriving tonight so we sadly say goodbye and move on.

I see a red square on the map that says Aztec Ruins. We are going right by so we decide to stop.  Good thing I saw it on the map because there were no signs going through town.

Aztec Ruins was built and used over a 200-year period and is the largest Ancestral Pueblo community in the Animas River valley  The name is misnomer attributing them to the Aztec civilization byAmerican settlers in the mid-19th century. The actual construction was by the Ancestral Puebloans.

Archeologists excavated and reconstructed the Great Kiva

Great kivas are believed to be the first public buildings constructed in the Mesa Verde valley

Four pillars and alternating poles held up the ceiling beams.  Each pillar rested on 4 limestone discs brought from 30 miles away.  It was an engineering feat both then and again when it was reconstructed.  They support a 95 ton roof

A more basic Kiva in front of the ruins.  You can see one of the 4 corner doors  up top that connected rooms at their corners.  These are very rare and unique to Chacoan great houses.

.  You can see some of the corner doors up top that connected rooms at their corners.  These are very rare and unique to Chacoan great houses. 

The doors weren't any too big.

 Yet another Kiva

in the entrance across the way a Mat of willow sewn with Yucca cord still where it was left 800 years ago.

The long, straight back wall of Aztec West marks both the summer and

winter solstices. From the west corner of the wall, you can watch the

summer solstice sun rise directly up the east corner. From the east corner,

you can watch the winter solstice sun set down the west corner.

One of a handful of tri-wall structures found in the southwest.  Archaeologists think they are ceremonial because they are so rare and have a central Kiva.  At least 7 multi walled Kivas are located at Aztec ruins. 

Lines of green stone are incorporated in some of the walls.  The meaning is unknown but may be associated with water or serpents for protection.

This was one of the best ruins I have seen and we almost missed it.  I  thought it would be a quick 15 minute stop but we spent well over an hour here.  I recommend it if you are passing through the area.