Cultural Appreciation, Week V [Wednesday, Periods 4 & 5]

[atreideslioness]

When students met on the Causeway today, they'd find Ghanima in a simple sundress, sunglasses already on and a cardboard box at her feet. "Today, we're going somewhere nice and warm," she said as their portal rippled into existence behind her. "Our destination is New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Historical Park, as well as the museum that they have on-site."

"From AD 850 to 1250, Chaco was a hub of ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area--unlike anything before or since. Chaco is remarkable for its multi-storied public buildings, ceremonial buildings, and distinctive architecture. These structures required considerable planning, designing, organizing of labor, and engineering to construct. The Chacoan people combined many elements: pre-planned architectural designs, astronomical alignments, geometry, landscaping, and engineering to create an ancient urban center of spectacular public architecture--one that still awes and inspires us a thousand years later."

"By 1050, Chaco had become the ceremonial, administrative, and economic center of the San Juan Basin. Its sphere of influence was extensive. Dozens of great houses in Chaco Canyon were connected by roads to more than 150 great houses throughout the region. It is thought that the great houses were not traditional farming villages occupied by large populations. They may instead have been impressive examples of "public architecture" that were used periodically during times of ceremony, commerce, and trading when temporary populations came to the canyon for these events."

"In the 1100s and 1200s, change came to Chaco as new construction slowed and Chaco's role as a regional center shifted. Chaco's influence continued at Aztec, Mesa Verde, the Chuska Mountains, and other centers to the north, south, and west. In time, the people shifted away from Chacoan ways, migrated to new areas, reorganized their world, and eventually interacted with foreign cultures. Their descendants are the modern Southwest Indians. Many Southwest Indian people look upon Chaco as an important stop along their clans' sacred migration paths-a spiritual place to be honored and respected."

"I've got bottled water, sunglasses, and a variety of hats in this box here, for those of you who burn easily. Grab what you need, and off we go."

[OCD up!]

Comments

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

[atreideslioness]

There's a number of activities available. Grab a friend or explore by yourself, just make it back to the portal on time.

Visitor Center, Museum & Store

[atreideslioness]

The Visitor Center is open for planning your visit or checking out the museum. Books, videos, postcards, posters, tee-shirts, etc are available in the Western National Parks and Monuments operated bookstore.

Re: Visitor Center, Museum & Store

[mathletenomore.livejournal.com]

Lindsay decided to check out the museum. She was especially fascinated by the ceramics.

Re: Visitor Center, Museum & Store

[nohaircutsplz]

Medusalith explored the Visitor Center and museum, thinking all the while that, by her standards, this civilization was both extremely young and primitive, but she must be sure not to let anyone realize that. They probably wouldn't appreciate it, and it would, you know, give her away.

Re: Visitor Center, Museum & Store

[trigons_child]

Raven wandered about the museum, soaking in the culture and history.

Re: Visitor Center, Museum & Store

[notlikejack.livejournal.com]

Bobby definitely wanted to wander down on one of the trails, but you always went to the museum first. Always. That way you were educated on the area and situation before exploring further.

Bobby had learned much from his mother. It was often of a geeky nature.

Re: Visitor Center, Museum & Store

[she-sheds.livejournal.com]

Joolushko headed straight for the museum. History, even of strange human civilizations, was always fascinating.

Tours!

[atreideslioness]

Go on a ranger-guided or self-guided tour of the area. Check out the Petroglyph Trail with a friend, and be sure to visit Pueblo Bonito.

Re: Tours!

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

Christian followed a ranger to the pueblo, awed at what he saw. It amazed him to think about all the people it must have taken to build something like this so long ago.

Re: Tours!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall followed Christian fairly closely. No reason. And he certainly wasn't lurking or glaring. Well, not much.

After all, it wasn't Christian's fault that Rinoa got cast as his co-star. And Squall didn't have any claim on her, anyway. It was kind of funny how telling himself that over and over didn't help his mood any.

Re: Tours!

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

Eventually, Christian whirled around. "Squall?" he asked. "Are you following me for some reason?"

Re: Tours!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall shrugged and glared at Christian. "What does it matter?"

He SHOULDN'T be following him, after all.

Re: Tours!

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't you want to know if someone was following you?" Christian asked, eyes narrowing. "It's hardly usual behavior."

Re: Tours!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

"I would know if someone was following me," Squall countered. He was all observant like that.

But he'd have to tell Christian something, or else this conversation was going to last the whole way along the cliff.

"You're in the play," he eventually stated.

Re: Tours!

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

"Prince Charming," Christian nodded eagerly. He was confused by the change in subject, but he gamely tried to roll with it. "I don't know a great deal about it yet. I'm sure Mr. Rhapsodos would love to have you in the crew, even if you didn't try out."

The fact Rinoa and Squall kind of had a thing hadn't really entered his mind yet, no.

Re: Tours!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

"Whatever. You're not as charming as you think you are."

Maybe he WOULD join the crew... that would make it easier to keep an eye on Rinoa. Or maybe not.

Re: Tours!

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

"How do you know how charming I think I am?" Christian sputtered. "It's the name of a part in a fairy tale. I don't go around telling you that you don't really have the heart of a lion."

Dumb example, and from his wince he knew it, but it was all he had.

Re: Tours!

[notlikebobby.livejournal.com]

A self-guided tour was right up Jack's alley today. He was too focused on thinking about this weekend to care about where they were. He checked to see where Bobby was going, then walked off along one of the trails.

Re: Tours!

[notlikejack.livejournal.com]

Bobby had a handful of informational brochures about the Park as he ran to catch up with Jack. "I got some brochures for you too, Jack!" he exclaimed as he skidded to a stop beside his brother. "You know what mom says about educating yourself first."

Re: Tours!

[notlikebobby.livejournal.com]

Jack threw him a look and didn't reach for the brochures. "Only you would be excited about being here."

Re: Tours!

[notlikejack.livejournal.com]

"I think some of the other people are excited too," Bobby pointed out. "There was one girl totally into all the ceramics." The brochures were offered again.

Re: Tours!

[notlikebobby.livejournal.com]

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Jack took the brochures without looking at them. "Why aren't you doing a tour with her then?"

Re: Tours!

[notlikejack.livejournal.com]

It was Bobby who rolled his eyes now. "Cause pots are boring?"

And he remembered the last time they were in the Southwest, and maybe he'd really rather be with his brother.

Re: Tours!

[notlikebobby.livejournal.com]

"Did you actually admit that something educational was boring?"

Re: Tours!

[notlikejack.livejournal.com]

He made a face. "Only in comparison," Bobby protested. "I mean. We could be somewhere cool right now."