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Looking down into
the canyon you get no clue of its history at first
- but then use binoculars and look closer at patches
and holes visible on the other side. They are
ancient buildings let into the rock face (above)
with no easy path in sight to gain access to the
Sinagua dwellings. This must have been a safe
place to retreat from enemies - but they needed
to watch their step when they came out of their
precarious front doors.
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Most of the dwellings are beyond
reach from the path and actually appear to the
naked eye as little more than a row of dark
specks on the opposite cliff face. But, with
binoculars or through a zoom lens (as above)
you can see many of these ancient homes. This
was a hidden city.
The official route leads visitors
down into the canyon on well-marked trails with
reassuring guard rails. The path passes several
of these dwellings where you can peer inside
and imagine them occupied by resourceful hill
farmers raising their families in the security
of this sheltered canyon. You can even see soot
marks where the smoke rose from the Sinagua
people's ancient fires (see below).
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