The first week in December 02 I had visited the ranch alone and had
Ventured out past the newly discovered village that Greg and I had
found the week prior.  I had decided that the residence most probably
ventured up close to the Mesa Prieta where the terrain changed from
cliffs to large volcanic rocks and trees with water shed at the mouth.

As I neared the edge of the geological transfer I began to find chards 
and some pottery.  I noticed a large grinder that had been cracked and
the last third was gone.  I attempted to pick it up an take it with me
back to the car but it was just too heavy and the car was 4 miles away
by my gps indication.  

I sat the grinder on a large rock and marked the spot on the gps.  I was
determined to come back more prepared and retrieve it.

I set up an expedition with Mike and Greg the next week.  I got a bag
strong enough to hold the grinder, some rope and a lodge pole.  The idea
was to use the gps and try to get the car closer than 4 miles to the
grinder location and carry it back to the car.  It was like clock work.
We took the car to a new off road position and drove in the general
direction of the grinder as far as we could.  When we could go no further
off road because of large gorges we parked the car believing that we
were less than a mile from the grinder.  Mike used the gps to guide us 
to the grinder and there it was.





Mike bags it as Greg looks on.





This is Greg playing with the lodge pole.  He had some notion about
putting the pole on two rocks and how that was supposed to help us
tie it.  Mike and I laughed.





This thing was heavy.  First Mike would lead finding the best route 
to carry and Greg would carry.  There was lots of discussion by Greg
about centering the grinder on the stick so he did not get the 
short end so I just took his end and that ended that.  










It is always a relief to see the car.  Gps paid off and we were able
to accomplish this task with minimum upsets other than when I set
the grinder down it was on Mikes foot.  Two days later Mike was
limping.

Having accomplished the primary task for the day Mike and Gregg voted
that we explore the west side of Preita.  This is quite risky as we have
to leave the ranch cross through a small portion of a reservation to 
gain access to the ranch again on the west side overlooking the Rio 
Puerquo and the road is barely existent.  We discovered five new ancient 
Villages this day.  Below is the one that mike found.





When you get close you can see the foundation rocks and pot chards.









And the find of the day goes to Mike who found this iron point.  If you 
Have any knowledge of this please help us out and give us some Ideas.  
I believe it to be a Spanish crossbow point.  This would date it to
About 1500.  Conquestidor maybe.  What a find!



















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email to:  anastazi@riorancho.com





anastazi@riorancho.com

THE AMMONITES WE FIND

COMING SOON THE ANIMALS, SCENERY, POTTERY, FOSSILS...

copyright 2000/2001/2002 Chuck Dawson Corrales NM

 
 



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