South West Dig

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Central to all Anasazi / Ancestral Puebloan communities – whether a small village for 10 families or a large city for thousands of residents and visitors – was the KIVA. A KIVA is a ceremonial chamber used for meetings, council decision making, storytelling, conversations with protective deities (gods), and it was where men and boys learned, slept, and passed knowledge on from one generation to the next. At certain times in some tribes, women may also have been invited in for meetings, but in general, this was the lodge where the men shaped their society. Almost all KIVAS were round and partially submerged below ground. Most had ladders that provided an entrance and exit through the roof.

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Today you are going to see how Ancient Southwest ruins are being studied using state-of-the-art rendering software. We have computer graphic works by two people to study – one is John Kanter who is an ANTHROPOLOGIST, and the other is DENNIS HOLLOWAY who is an ARCHITECT. Both men are interested in helping us learn what life was like in the Ancient Southwest and their 3D and virtual reality images are excellent examples of what technology literacy can bring to life to share with others !! Here is a great example – watch how Pueblo Bonito was built, mysteriously un-built, and then rebuilt – kivas, storage rooms and living areas … click on this to see it in ANIMATED action button !!

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Let’s BEGIN OUR DIG by exploring an ancient KIVA and learn about its features… and discover the mysteries it has revealed …….…

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:49AM PST (-0800 GMT)
First, let’s visit several three dimensional images of the kiva and buildings at Chetro Ketl in Chaco Canyon. Click on this button to see where Chaco Canyon is and then find it on a larger United States map in your classroom. Once you understand where in the world this KIVA is, click on this button to view the pueblo of Chetro Ketl and see its great KIVA in the lower center of the picture button …….. And next, view an amazing interior rendering of the KIVA button You can click on different parts of this picture to see more detail and closer images about the room. Each time you have clicked on the image and then want to go back to the main picture, you will need to use your BACK button on your browser to return to the main picture. Then zoom-in on another area. (TEACHERS - If you know you have a Quicktime and audio plug in on your computer you can see even more about this KIVA by clicking here button .)

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:49AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig Question #1 – name three objects you can identify in the Chetro Kettle Kiva that had a ceremonial art or musical purpose. button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Now, let’s look at the floor plan of the kiva button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig questions #2 – what shape is the kiva ? …………… What has been found in the KIVA ? After many years of excavation, secret compartments were discovered in the walls of the kiva and you can click on this button to see what they found hidden in the walls. What did they find in the niches and where do you think it came from ?

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig Question #3 - When was Chetro Ketl Built ? How many rooms did it have ? How tall was it ? button …………….

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:51AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Here is what the ruins look like today …. As photographed by a teacher from Granite School in Utah button And this teacher also visited Casa Rinconada – the LARGEST KIVA in Chaco Canyon with unique features that you can see here at this button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:51AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig Question #4 – How wide across was Casa Rinconada ? button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:51AM PST (-0800 GMT)
North of Chaco Canyon there is another Great KIVA – this one is know known as Aztec Ruins. Click on this button to find the answer to the following questions :

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:51AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig question #5 – What do you notice about WHERE the KIVA is positioned in the town ? Is it mixed in with other buildings ? or is it surrounded by something that sets it off from the rest of the buildings ? button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig question #6 – looking at the map on the same link, what important Anasazi site is north of Aztec and which is south ? button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Next, let’s look at a 3D rendering of the Aztec kiva to see how it was built button ….. it can be seen as the large circular building in the lower image ………… now, let’s step inside to see a rendering of the interior of the building …. button .

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig Question #7 – What can you see would have been the building technique used to hold up the roof of the kiva ? The roof was strong enough for people to walk on it …… button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
>>> Dig Question #8 - How wide across is this KIVA ? What do you see in the walls around the KIVA ? button

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:53AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Since the Aztec site has been rebuilt, we can also enjoy photographs of a KIVA that has been reconstructed and is now a National Historic Monument. button …. And you can see what the outside of this great KIVA looks like today at the National Parks web site at this button ….. TEACHERS – note that the Monument offer teachers resources at this button .

Camp Guides: . . . . Tue, Oct 23, 7:53AM PST (-0800 GMT)
In closing, this is what a KIVA looks like from the outside when reconstructed ….. and when you step inside this reconstructed KIVA at Aztec you can see the dark mysterious interior as it looks today …… …… can you imagine the people gathered around in a circle on the bench along the wall ? seated in groups on the floor by clan group ? can you hear the drum beat ? smell the air scented with juniper or sage incense ? image the storytelling or the dancing ? and see the stars up in Father Sky passing overhead through the hole in the ceiling where the ladder would have provided the entry and exit for this room tucked into the embrace of Mother Earth ? ……. Thanks for joining us on the GREAT KIVA INTERNET DIG !!!!