AmericaQuest is an interactive expedition developed by Classroom Connect. For four weeks a team of scientists and explorers will work to unravel the mysteries surrounding an ancient Pueblo indian tribe. Follow along here for daily reports on the Quest.

The bones of my ancestors

Before Christine enters Cave 7, she says a prayer out of respect for her ancestors who once lived here

March 10, 2000
Web posted at: 2:40 p.m. EST (1940 GMT)

Christine Suina

Today I visited a 1,500 year-old Basketmaker cave and said "hello" to my ancestors.

After waiting out a bad winter storm we finally began our long, challenging trek into the ruin site known as Cave 7. Our guides were Winston Hurst, the archaeologist who rediscovered this important site, and Aldean Ketchum, a Ute Indian artist. I didn't know what to expect or what it would feel like to be among the ruins.

Winston explained that the Wetherill brothers, the "discoverers" of Mesa Verde, first dug Cave 7 back in 1893. He said that the artifacts from Cave 7 are at least 1,500 years old, much older than the cliff dwellers who built Mesa Verde. Buried with these artifacts were beautiful baskets, and so the Wetherills named the people of this area "Basketmakers."

When we arrived at the cave and saw the ruins of ancient Pueblo houses, I noticed how different my approach to this place was from the rest of the team. While they rushed into the cave, picking up artifacts and taking photos, I stayed back and offered a prayer. I have always been taught by my elders to respect these places where our ancestors once lived.

I also let the spirits know I was there to visit with them and their home. I strongly believe the spirits of those who once lived here are still in the area. I appreciated the beautiful pottery with all the careful designs, but I chose not to handle these objects.

The rest of the team meant no disrespect, for them it was just a cool site with cool artifacts. They didn't feel what I felt. Team members picked up pottery shards and searched around for human bones.

Winston explained that the Wetherill Brothers took the remains of about 90 people from this site in 1893. I must admit I was shocked by all this talk and fascination with the bones of my ancestors.

The team found pottery and looked for human bones at Cave 7. Christine chose not to handle artifacts like these pieces of pottery.

I don't think the Wetherills and the archaeologists of long ago cared about how the Anasazi lived and who they were. They were interested in finding whole pots, baskets and of course human remains to sell or haul off to museum collections.

They dug pits, rifled through burials and basically robbed the sites of their cultural remains. The people of Cave 7 were buried here and to my people, and me this is a sacred place. As a Pueblo person, I don't believe they should be dug up and put on shelves in museums.

Fortunately, archaeology has changed in recent years. I know archaeologists of today like Winston and John are very in tune with respecting and preserving archaeological sites.

Cave 7 was special for me and for the team in different ways. Now they know more about my beliefs and I understand more about the history of this place and the ancestors who once lived here.

Maintain,

Christine Suina

AmericaQuest
Classroom Connect