Tuesday, August 31, 2010

THE INVISIBLE HUNTERS

THESE HUNTERS CLEANSE THEMSELVES BY PUTTING WHITE SAGE IN HIS ARMPITS BEFORE SLEEPING. THEY ALSO MADE SURE TO BATHE AND NOT TO EAT BEFORE HUNTING. THE NORTHERN TRIBE CHIMARIKO LAID IN AN AMBUSH OF A SPRING AND SMEARED HIS BOW AND ARROW WITH YERBA BUENA TO MASK THE HUMAN ODOR FROM THE DEER. ISHI FROM THE YAHI TRIBE DID NOT EAT FISH THE DAY BEFORE HE HUNTED AND DID NOT SMOKE TOBACCO. IN OPPOSITION TO THIS TRIBE THE SALINANS CHEWED TOBACCO DURING HUNTING AS THEY BELIEVED THIS WOULD STUPIFY THE DEER.

ISHI DID NOT APPROACH AN ANIMAL ON THE WIND SIDE, BUT WALKED AROUND A MOUNTAIN TO GET TO THE ANIMAL. HE ALSO HUNTED QUAIL, RABBIT, AND SQUIRRELS. HE HID BEHIND THE ROCKS. HE ALSO PILED LARGE ROCKS ONTO A CAIRN WHICH HE HID BEHIND IN ORDER TO HUNT DEER AND OTHER ANIMALS. SOME OF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBES USED DEER HEADS TO DISGUISE THEMSELVES DURING THE HUNT.

PAUL CAMPBELL

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

LIFE IS NOT A RACE, IT IS A JOURNEY

NATIVE HEALERS USE BOTH TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MEDICINES AS WELL. THERE ARE A FEW HEALERS THAT USE ONLY TRADITIONAL MEDICINE. SOME PEOPLE TRY TO RELY ON PRAYER ALONE TO HEAL, HOWEVER IT MAY GIVE YOU SOME RELIEF. SOME PRACTITIONERS USE GUIDED IMAGERY TO RELIEVE PAIN SUCH AS SURGERY. ONE EXAMPLE WAS A MAN WHO HAD BEEN BITTEN WITH A BUG WHICH TURNED INTO AN INFECTION. HE IMAGINED HE WAS COVERED WITH WHITE BLOOD CELLS. AND HE IMAGINED THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT MY BODY AND ROOM WHERE I LAY WAS COVERED WITH LIGHT. HE HAD AN ANTIBIOTIC DRIP IN HIS ARM AND KEPT FOCUSING ON THE LIGHT. HE HAD A PERSONAL CONTROL OF HIS LIFE. THIS IMAGERY ACTS AS AN ACCESSORY TO THE HEALING PROCESS.

THE HEALING OF PEOPLE IS INTERTWINED WITH BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT SO AS TO HAVE A SPECIAL AFFECT ON PEOPLEWHO ARE NEDDING SPECIAL ATTENTION. PREHISTORIC PEOPLE NEEDED THIS AS WELL AND HAD BEEN PASSED DOWN TO FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

Monday, August 23, 2010

ANIMAL LESSONS

CATS AND DOGS HAVE BEEN MAN'S BEST FRIENDS FOR CENTURIES. ANIMAL'S LOVE OF MAN IS A NONJUDGMENTAL LOVE OF MAN. THEY HAVE NO SENSE OF THE FUTURE AND YET THEY HAVE A SENSE AND YET THEY HAVE A SENSE OF EXPERIENCING PLEASURE. ANIMALS NEVER EXPERIENCE THE AHA EFFECT WE EXPERIENCE AS HUMANS. THEY ARE THE WISE CREATURES THAT WE HAVE DOMESTICATED SINCE EARLY EGYPTIAN TIMES!

THEY LOVE TO BE OUR FRIENDS AND THEY ARE JUST SOCIABLE AS YOU MAY EXPECT. WE ARE USUALLY MORE LOVABLE TO OUR PETS THAN TO OUR HUMAN FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY CAN BE NONJUDGMENTAL. THEY ARE USUALLY THE ONES TO KEEP US CALM DURING A CRISIS. THEY HAVE AN ABILITY TO REACT AS WE DO. THEY ALSO REACT TO EACH OTHER BASED UPON THE LUNAR CYCLE. SOMEHOW IT AFFECTS HOW THEY CAN STAY CALM OR BE MORE SENSITIVE TO EACH OTHER.

IT LOWERS YOUR HEART RATE TO HAVE PETS AROUND AND THEY ADD TO THE ENERGY OF A HOUSE. IT BRINGS A POSITIVE INFLUENCE TO YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND TO YOUR FAMILY. IT BRINGS YOU TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT YOUR PET'S BEHAVIOR.
IT IS ALSO GOOD COMPANY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES OR ARE LIVING ALONE.

CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL LIVING YESTERDAY

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL LIVING AND GOT A LESSON OF HOW TO RELAX VS, MULTI-TASKING. IT IS A LESSON I LEARNED AS A COACHING STUDENT TO STAY RELAXED AND NOT DO TOO MUCH AT A TIME. HE ALSO SAID TO JUST BREATHE AND RELAX. I SPOKE TO MY BROTHER ABOUT MY MOM'S HEALTH CRISIS, AND ASKED HIM TO TAKE IT EASY. WE HAD BOTH BEEN VISITING HER FOR DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS EXHAUSTING AS WE BOTH SUPPORTED EACH OTHER.

I CRIED AT CHURCH AS A BLACK SINGER WAS SINGING A SONG THAT ALL THERE IS IS LOVE AND PEACE BE WITH YOU! IT WAS VERY UPLIFTING FOR ME AND I KNOW THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. I MET ANOTHER SHAMAN I HAD MET IN A MEETING.

MY GRANDPARENT'S HARNESS STORE

MY GRANDFATHER ON MY DAD'S SIDE OPENED A STORE IN TROY OHIO WHERE MY BROTHER AND I GREW UP. THE STORE STARTED OUT AS A HARNESS AND FEED STORE. MY GRANDFATHER MADE HARNESSES FROM SCRATCH AND HE MEASURED THE HORSES IN ORDER TO GET A PERFECT FIT. HIS LEATHER CRAFT AREA WAS ON THE SECOND STORY OF THE STORE. MY GRANDMOTHER HELPED IN ORGANIZING AND KEEPING UP THE STORE. I BELIEVE IT WAS OPERATED FROM ABOUT 1949 TO 1956.

MY FATHER, MOTHER, AND UNCLE WORKED AT THE STORE WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG. THEY HELPED WITH SALES AND DOING INVENTORY. MY MOM HELPED WITH ACCOUNTING. IN THE LATER YEARS THEY SOLD ALL KINDS OF WESTERN CLOTHING, COWBOY BOOTS, AND LEATHER FRINGE JACKETS. WE SPENT SOME SUMMERS IN THE UPSTAIRS PLAYING WITH TOYS AND RIDING OUR TRICYCLES.

DURING THE EARLY YEARS THE STORE DID WELL, AS IT WAS ONE OF A KIND IN THE AREA. HOWEVER, LATER ON WHEN OTHER STORES OPENED THAT SOLD SIMILAR ITEMS THEY LOST SOME CUSTOMERS.

AFTER WORK THE MEN WOULD GATHER WITH OTHERS FROM THE TOWN AND SMOKE, DRINK, AND SOCIALIZE WITH CARD GAMES.

THE WOMEN GATHERED TOGETHER AT MY UNCLE'S HOUSE TO SEW, MAKE QUILTS AND DO ART PROJECTS.

THESE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN LIFE WAS PRETTY SLOW. TROY WAS A COUNTY SEAT AND HAD ONLY ABOUT 10,000 RESIDENTS. THEY EVENTUALLY WENT BANKRUPT AS THE COMPETITION GREW.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

BERRIES AND FRUITS EATEN BY CALIFORNIA INDIAN

IN CALIFORNIA THE INDIANS ATE JUNIPERS, GOOSEBERRIES, MANZANITA, BOXTHORN, ELDERBERRIES AND DRIED OR POUNDED THE ROOTS INTO LITTLE CAKES AND ATE THEM RAW.

ELDERBERRIES WERE BOILED IN A POT TO EAT THEM. BOX THORN BERRIES WERE POUNDED IN A MORTAR; THE MEAL WAS MOLDED IN BISCUITS TO DRY IN THE SUN. THE BERRIES PROVIDED HIGH VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SWEETNESS.

MANZANITA BERRIES WERE EATEN BY CHILDREN WHO SUCKED THEM. SOME PEOPLE OVER ATE THESE AND IT CAUSED THEM DEATH AS JOHN HUDSON NOTED! THE WOMEN BEAT THE BERRIES AND COLLECTED THEM IN BURDEN BASKETS. THEY CAME TO CAMP AND ATE THEM RAW OR THEY WERE PUT THEM INTO STEWS. THE KAROK COLLECTED THEM AND DRIED THEM INTO THE SUN. THE HUPA, POMO, AND KAROK POUNDED THE BERRIES INTO A MEAL. LATER IT COULD BE MADE INTO AA CAKE. SOME POMO BOILED THEM INTO A MUSH. THEY MADE A CIDER AND A WINE OUT OF THE BERRIES. THE MIWOK USED THE WHITELEAF MANZANITA FOR A CIDER. THE MAIDU ATE THE RAW BIGBERRY MANZANITA OR POUNDED THEM INTO A FLOUR.

WILD GRAPE WAS EATEN BY THE KAROK AS FRESH FRUIT; POMO ATE SOME AS WELL. THE MIWOK MASHED THE GRAPES BY HAND. THE YOKUTS CRUSHED AND MADE A RED JUICE. CAHUILLA ATE FRESH GRAPES OR MADE A MUSH. THE SERVICE BERRY WAS EATEN RAW BY THE POMO/KAROK. ATSEUGEWI MASHED THE RIPE BERRIES IN A TULE BASKET AND ATE THEM FRESH. CAHUILLA ATE THEM FRESH OR DRIED THEM.

GOOSEBERRIES WERE BEATEN OFF THE BRANCHES BY THE KAROK AND GATHEREDE IN A BASKET. A CUP MADE INTO A BASKET WAS RUBBED OVER THE BERRIES SO AS THE SPINES COULD BE REMOVED. THEY WERE PUT IN A WINNOW BASKET WITH HOT COALS TO PARCH. THE YOKUTS AND ATSUGEWI DID THE SAME. THE MIWOK WINNOWED THEM, THEN PULVERIZED THEM WITH MORTAR.

THE SMOOTH GOOSEBERRY WAS EATEN FRESH BY THE POMO AND MIWOK AS WELL AS HUPA. MOST NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBES ATE THEM FRESH.

THE SALMONBERRY ATE THEM FRESH.

THE POMO AND KAROK ATE SALAL AS A FRESH FRUIT.

MOST TRIBES ATE THE WILD STAWBERRY (FRAGARIA CALIFORNICA).

RASPBERRIES AND THIMBLEBERRIES WERE EATEN FRESH OR DRIED FOR THE WINTER.

RUBUS VITAFOLIUS OR WILD BLACKBERRY WAS EATEN FRESH AND DRIED FOR THE WINTER.

ELDERBERRY WAS EATEN FRESH OR DRIED BY THE POMO AND BEAR RIVER TRIBE. POMO MADE A JUICE OUT OF THEM AS WELL. THEY ALSO USED THE WOOD FOR FLUTES AND USED ELDERBERRY STICKS FOR A TOSS GAME. THE YOKUTS DRIED A LARGE PORTION OF THE BERRIES. THE MIWOKS COOKED THEM BEFORE EATTING. CAHUILLA ATE THEM FRESH OR DRIED THEM IN OLLAS. THE CAHUILLA ATE THEM FRESH OR DRIED THEM IN CLUSTERS OR BOILED THEM IN A SAUCE.

BLACK NIGHTSHADE BERRIES WERE CONSIDERED EXCELLENT BY THE POMO. RED HUCKLEBERRIES WERE EATEN FRESH BY ALL NORTHERN CALIFORNIAN INDIANS.



PAUL CAMPBELL

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

VEGETABLES AND GREENS - PART II

THE YUMA ATE RAW BARK OR COOKED THE BARK OF WILLOW IN ASHES. LEAVES AND BARK WERE USED AS TEA. THE MOHAVE MADE TEA FROM YOUNG WILLOW SHOOTS. CURLY DOCK LEAVES WERE BOILED BY THE MOHAVE.

YUCCA BUDS IN THE SPRING WERE KNOCKED OFF WITH A STAVE BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIANS. AND THEY CUT THE TENDER STALKS AND LAID THEM IN OVENS IN EARTH COVERED PITS LINED WITH HOT ROCKS. THEY COOKED OVERNIGHT. tHE BLOSSOMS OF FLOWERS WERE PARBOILED AND DRIED IN THE SUN.

THE LEAVES, STALKS, AND FLOWER BASE OF THE DESERT AGAVE WERE BAKED FOR A DAY OR MORE IN A STONE LINED PIT OVEN. THIS WAS THEN POUNDED INTO CAKES THAT WERE DRIED IN THE SUN. THE BASE OF THE AGAVE HEAD WAS FROM THE LARGER COASTAL AGAVE. IT WAS THROWN ON TOP OF THE HOT STONES IN A PIT. IT WAS BAKED FOR 2 - 3 NIGHTS. FLOWERS OF THE AGAVE PROVIDED THE KILIWEA WITH NECTAR. RED BARREL CACTUS FLOWER BUDS WERE COLLECTED FROM APRIL TO LATE JULY. THEY WERE SOMEWHAT BITTER AND PARBOILED. THE FLOWERS WERE EATEN RAW OR PARBOILED OR DRIED IN THE SUN. THEY COULD BE STEWED WITH MOUNTAIN SHEEP/JACK RABBIT.

JUMPING CHOLLA BUDS WERE GATHERED, PRESERVED, AND PREPARED BY THE CAHUILLA. PLAINS PRICKLY PEAR BUDS WERE COLLECTED IN QUANTITY, DRIED , AND STORED. THEY WERE BOILED TO EAT. THE SEEDS WERE WINNOWED AND STORED FOR THE WINTER. KILIWEA MADE PINOLE FROM THE SEEDS OF CHOLLA CACTUS.

BLUE AND YELLOW PALO VERDE TREE BEAN PODS WERE GATHERED BY THE COCOPAH. THEY WERE POUNDED IN WOODEN MORTARS AND THE PODS WERE DISCARDED. THE SEEDS WERE SAVED. THE SEEDS WERE ROASTED IN COALS AND GROUND INTO A MEAL OR MUSH. THE YUMA'S DRIED THE PODS AND TRAMPLED THEM TO FREE THE SEEDS. THE SEEDS WERE PARCHED AND ROASTED A SECOND TIME.

AMARANTH OR PIGWEED IS AN IMPORTANT FOOD TO MANY NATIVES INCLUDING THE COCOPAH. IT GREW 12 INCHES HIGH AFTER THE FLOODS SUBSIDED. OLDER GIRLS GATHERED IT . IT WAS ONE OF THEIR FEW RESPONSIBILITIES. THEY BOILED THE GREENS AND PRESSED THEM INTO BALLS.

PAUL CAMPBELL

GREENS AND VEGETABLES

THE POMO BELIEVE THAT THEY MUST SHARE THEIR FOODS AND PRAY TO THEIR CREATOR THAT THEY ARE TAKING SPECIAL PLANTS TO CALM THE EARTH SPIRIT AND WARD OFF EVIL POWERS. THEY SHARE THE HARVEST WITH OTHERS AND BELIEVE SELFISHNESH IS BAD LUCK.

SEAWEED IS LIKE ALGAE AND THEY PRESS IT INTO LEAVES WHEN WET AND EAT THEM RAW. A YUROK ELDER TOLD ME THAT A YOUNG MAN WOULD TRANSPORT A GROUP OF OLDER LADIES UP THE COAST TO COLLECT SEAWEED FOR A FEW DAYS AND PROCESS IT. A SHAMAN WAS SAID TO EAT IT TO INTENSIFY HIS THIRST WHEN REFRAINING FROM THE WATER TO IMPROVE HIS MEDICINE IN HUNTING. SOME NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBES DRY SEAWEED IN THE SUN. 100 YEARS AGO BOTH POMO AND YUKI MADE SPECIAL TRIPS TO THE COAST FOR ABALONE. THEY PREFERRED TO BAKE THE PLANTS AND CHEWED THEM RAW. SOME FOLKS BAKED THEM. IT WAS STORED IN CAKES A FOOT IN DIAMETER AND BAKED IN THE SUN.. KELP WAS GATHERED IN SUMMER AND FALL. THEY COOKED THE STALK IN AN UNDERGROUND OVEN OR HOT ASHES; OR DRIED THEM AS CORDAGE.

SEA PALM WAS CHEWED FRESH BY THE KASKAYA POMO OR BAKED IN AN OVEN OR ASHES. STRIPS WERE DRIED OR LAID IN SUNNY PLACES.

CLOVER WAS RELISHED BY THE POMO (I DON'T THINK THEY EAT IT TODAY). IN THE SPRING THEY FILLED THEIR STOMACHS AS WELL AS BURDEN BASKETS AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE VILLAGE. SOMETIMES THEIR STOMACHS WOULD BL THERE WERE OVER 30 SPECIES OF CLOVER COLLECTED AND YOU MAY REFER TO MY OTHER BLOG ON CLOVER AND THEIR CEREMONIES.

EARTH OVENS WERE MADE BY MOST TRIBES AND THE MIWOK BAKED AND STEAMED THE GREENS IN A SMALL PIT OR OVEN LINED WITH HOT ROCKS. GRAY MULES EARS TASTED THE BEST, BUT GRAPE LEAVES OR GREEN TULE COULD ALSO BE USEDE. THEN HOT ROCKS COVERED THE FOOD, AND THEN DIRT WAS PLCED ON TOP. IT WAS BAKED OVERNIGHT. FOOD WAS KEPT IN THESE OVENS. POURING WATER AROUND THE OVEN STEAMED THE FOOD.

TULE AND CATTAIL WERE COLLECTED BY THE MEN IN THE LAKES AND DOVE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKES FOR VERY LONG ROOTSSTOCKS. SOME WERE EATEN RAW, OTHERS WERE COOKED WITH GREEN SEEDS. SOME TRIBES GROUND THE ROOTS INTO FLOUR SOME MADE CAKES OF THE FLOUR. THE YELLOW POLLEN WAS COLLECTED INTO A BOWL. POMO AND COCOPAH ATE RARE POLLEN OF CATTAILS AND MADE A GRUEL OF IT.

SEDGE STEMS WERE EATEN BY THE KAWAIISU

FRESH SHOOTS OF NARROW LEAF MULES EARS WERE WERE EATEN RAW BY THE POMO AND KAROK. THEY ATE MANY FRESH SHOOTS OF PLANTS IN THE SPRING.

AMERICAN VETCH WAS COOKED BY THE POMO AND YUKI AS GREENS IN AN OVEN.

LOMATIUM LEAVES AND STEMS WERE EATEN RAW (SEE MY BLOG ON LOMATIUM ROOT). SOME TRIBES BOILED THE GREENS AND THE FLOWERS.

REDWOOD SORREL LEAVES AND STEMS WERE CHEWED BY THE POMO.

THE MIWOK ATE THE RAW STEMS OF WATER DROPWORT.

WILD RHUBARB STALKS WERE EATEN BY CAHUILLA. IN SPRING TIME THEY ATE WILLOW DOCK. THE STALKS COULD BE RAOSTED IN HOT ASHES.

WILD CELERY COULD BE EATEN BY THE CAHUILLA.

WILD PARSLEY WAS MIXED WITH ACORN SOUP IN VARIOUS TRIBES.

MINERS LETTUCE BLOSSOMS AND LEAVES WERE EATEN BY MOST INDIANS OR BOILED.

PURSLANE WAS ANOTHER GREEN. THE KASHAYA POMO ATE WILD CARROT LEAVES.

WILD ONION WAS BAKED BY THE POMO IN AN OVEN OR EATEN RAW. LEAVES, STALKS, AND HEADS WERE EATEN.

BIGELOW'S COREOPSIS WAS AN IMPORTANT FOOD AMONG THE KAWAIISU. IT WAS CUT OFF AT THE BASE IN THE SPRING. BEFORE BLOOMING AND EATEN RAW. THE STEMS WERE CHEWED FOR SWEAT JUICE.

MILKWEED WAS POISONOUS TO COWS, BUT THE POMO ATE YOUNG BLOSSOMS AND CHESTNUT FOUND THEM PLEASANT!

AGOSERIS JUICE WAS SUCKED FROM THE ROOT BY THE KAROK. THEY BOILED AND ATE THE LEAVES IN THE SPRING.

CALIFORNIA POPPY LEAVES WERE USED AS GREENS AND FLOWERS WERE CHEWED AS A GUM BY THE LUISENO. YUKI FOLKS BOILED THE LEAVES AS GREENS BUT WERE CAREFUL NOT TO DRINK THE WATER.

VINEGAR WEED WAS BREWED INTO A HOT TEA BY THE KUAIISU FOR RELIEF OF COLDS.

PAINTBRUSH FLOWERS WERE PULLED APART BY AND THE NECTAR WAS SIPPED BY MIWOK.

GOOSEFOOT SHOOTS AND LEAVES WERE BOILED AND EATENBY THE CAHUILLA AND OTHER SOUTHERN TRIBES. IT TASTES LIKE LAMBSQUARTERS.

OCOTILLO FLOWERS WERE EATEN IN THE SPRING BY THE CAHILLA OR SOAKED FOR A REFRESHING DRINK.

DANDELION STEMS AND LEAVES WERE EATEN BY THE CHUMASH AND CAHUILLA.

TARWEED SEEDS OF MANY SPECIES WERE PARCHED TO MAKE PINOLE (SEE MY PREVIOUS BLOG). THE CAHUILLA USED THE ENTIRE PLANT.

THE MARIPOSA AND DESERT LILY BULBS WERE EATEN RAW OR BAKED IN AN UNDER GROUND OVEN.

IN MARCH PENNYWORT WAS FOUND ON TOP OF WATER AND USED AS A GREEN.

WHITE SAGE STALKS WERE EATEN RAW BY THE NORTHERN DIEGUENO. IT WAS ALSO USED FOR CLEANSING.

BRACKEN FERN LEAVES AND TENDER STEMS WERE EATEN RAW BY THE ATSUGEWI. CAHUILLA SCRAPED THE SHOOTS AND BOILED THEM. THE POMO USED THIS JUICE FOR DEORDORANT.

THE POMO ATE TREE FUNGUS AND THEY LIKED THE RED EDGED YELLOW FUNGUS THAT GREW ON BLACK AND VALLEY OAKS. A VARIETY OF MUSHROOMS WERE COLLECTED AND GATHERED BY CALIFORNIA NATIVES.

PAUL CAMPBELL

Monday, August 9, 2010

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ART

I HAVE LEARNED THAT IT IS EASY TO RUN AWAY FROM PROBLEMS. HOWEVER THE MORE YOU SIT STILL AND LISTEN TO WHAT IS TRUE FOR YOU THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE. ARTISTS HAVE SPECIAL SKILLS TO BE WITH THEIR ART AND SEE THE BEAUTY IN WHAT THEY HAVE CREATED - THAT'S EMPOWERMENT. EVERYONE IS AN ARTIST OF SORTS. IT IS EASY TO MAKE SOMETHING FROM YOUR BACKYARD OR TO FIND A WAY TO STACK SOME STONES FOR A BACKYARD SHRINE. LISTEN TO THE EMPOWERMENT YOU REAP THROUGH THESE SIMPLE THINGS. OR PERHAPS YOU ARE A PHOTOGRAPHER - LOOK AND FEEL HOW GREAT IT IS TO BE WITH THOSE PHOTOS THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN. THE PEOPLE AND LANDSCAPES ARE PART OF GOD. THEY ARE HERE TO HELP YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY. I REVEAL IN BEING BY MYSELF SOMETIMES, BUT I REALLY LIKE TO BE WITH PEOPLE AS WELL! THEY GIVE ME ENERGY, AND AS AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, I LOVE ASKING PEOPLE WHAT THEIR ETHNICITY IS. THINK OF YOUR LANGUAGE AS AN ART AS WELL. EVERYONE HAS AN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THEIR WORDS! BE STILL AND KNOW HAT YOUR LIFE IS GOING FORWARD. ASK OTHERS FOR ADVICE WHEN NEEDED.

CAT AND DOG SHOW AT THE FAIR

I WENT TO THE CAT SHOW AT THE FAIR THIS WEEK AND IT WAS SHORT BUT SWEET. THEY HAD ABOUT 15 TRAINED CATS, KITTENS, AND HAMSTERS, AND A CHICKEN PERFORMING VARIOUS ACTS. THE CATS ROLLED A BALL ACROSS THE STAGE; JUMPED THROUGH HOOPS OF VARIOUS SIZES, AND HOPPED FROM POST TO POST. THEY MADE A VARIETY OF NOISES ON A STAGE WITH INSTRUMENTS THAT WERE PROGRAMED TO PLAY WHEN THEY TOUCHED THEM.

THEY EXPLAINED HOW THEY TRAINED THEM AND USED A SMALL BIT OF FOOD AFTER THEY PERFORMED ONE STEP OR TRICK. IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW EASILY THEY WENT BACK INTO THEIR CAGES USING A PIECE OF FOOD AS WELL.

THEY HAD A HAMSTER RIDE IN A SMALL REMOTE KIDS CAR! THEY HAD A CONTEST BETWEEN THE CHICKEN AND TUNA, A WHITE CAT - AS FAR AS HOW MANY TIMES THEY HIT A BELL.


THE DOG SPLASH SHOW WAS MUCH MORE POPULAR. THERE WERE PROBABLY 20 DOGS AND TRAINERS WHO WERE EXPLAINING HOW THEY TRAINED THEIR DOGS TO SPLASH IN 6 FOOT DEEP WATER. THEY HAD A PLATFORM THAT THEY USED AS A RUNWAY TO HAVE THE DOGS TAKE A RUNNING LEAP AND GO AFTER THEIR FAMILIAR OBJECT. SOME OF THEM JUMPED OVER18 FEET INTO THE WATER WHILE OTHERS DID NOT WANT TO GO IN. THESE TRAINERS TRAVELED AROUND FROM FAIR TO FAIR TO PROFIT WITH THEIR ANIMALS. THE POOL MUST HAVE BEEN A HASSLE TO SET UP BUT THE AUDIENCE GOT SPLASHED AS WELL. EVERYONE ENJOYED THE VARIOUS ANTICS THAT EACH DOG DISPLAYED! IT WAS A COOL DAY AND THEY DECIDED TO HAVE THE EVENT ANNOUNCED AS WELL AS THE BREED OF DOG. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THE REACTIONS OF THE CHILDREN TO THIS SHOW AS THEY GOT SPLASHED WHEN THE DOGS JUMPED IN THE POOL NEAR THEM.

GROWING COURAGE AS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST

WHEN I WORKED AS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST I GREW MY COURAGE BY EXPLORING AND SURVEYING UNCHARTED TERRITORIES. I USED A COMPASS AND NO GPS TO LOCATE WHERE I WAS TO SURVEY FOR SITES. IN THE FOREST SERVICE, BLM, AND AS A STATE PARK ARCHAEOLOGIST I WORKED ALONE AND ENJOYED BEING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS. I SUPERVISED A NUMBER OF CREWS IN NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA, ARIZONA, AND CALIFORNIA. I WORKED OUTDOORS AND NEVER CONSIDERED MY WORK TOO UNUSUAL. BUT WHEN I TALKED TO OTHERS THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ! THERE WERE QUITE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE WHO I WORKED WITH AND MANY HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN THE WILDERNESS, WHILE OTHERS HAD BEEN IN THE ARMY. IT WAS MOST DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH REMOTE CREWS AS I WAS NOT IN THE FIELD WITH THEM AND STILL TRIED TO DIRECT THEIR SURVEYS. MANY TIMES THE FOLKS GOT LOST!

WHEN I WAS YOUNG I REMEMBER WORKING IN OHIO TO DO SURVEYS IN CORN FIELDS. I LEARNED HOW TO USE A THEODOLITE AND COMPASS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND YOUR WAY AROUND ACRES OF CORN FIELDS AS WE SURVEYED PRIVATE FARMS IN OHIO. I THINK WE CARRIED WHISTLES AS WELL!

DURING MY UNDERGRADUATE DAYS I LEANED A LOT ABOUT HOW TO SURVEY OUTDOORS, INCLUDING CARRYING ENOUGH WATER TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY AND HOW TO LOCATE WHERE YOU ARE USING A COMPASS AND TOPOGRAPHIC MAP. I WAS ENGAGED DURING THE SUMMER IN EXCAVATIONS WORKING WITH CREWS UNCOVERING A PREHISTORIC HOPEWELL VILLAGE AS WELL AS A MASTODON SITE. MY FATHER ENROLLED MY BROTHER AND I IN A MUSEUM ALL SUMMER LONG. IT INCLUDED HARD LABOR IN DIGGING SOME OF THESE SITES. MY ARCHAEOLOGY CLUB IN OHIO WAS INVOLVED SURVEYING PRIVATE FARMS AND I WAS TAUGHT HOW TO MAP A SITE AND RECORD ARTIFACTS. WE USUALLY WALKED FAIRLY SLOWLY SO AS TO RECOGNIZE ANY ARTIFACTS.

MY GRADUATE WORK BUILT COURAGE AS I SPOKE TO MY CLASSES ABOUT MY RESEARCH. I ALSO TRAVELED TO MEXICO BY MYSELF AND THAT WAS FAIRLY RISKY AS THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME AS AN AMERICAN. THEY STOLE MY PASSPORT ON ONE BUS AS WELL AS SOME MONEY - I HAD LITTLE TO STEAL.. IN MY CLASS THERE I EXCAVATED A SITE THAT WAS GOING TO BE A RESORT FOR THE TOURISTS NEAR CUAUTLA AND LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT MESOAMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE MEXICAN CULTURE!

Friday, August 6, 2010

OAXACA TRAVELS

I TRAVELED TO OAXACA BY BUS WITH SOME GIRLFRIENDS WHO ENJOYED TRAVELING ON OUR CREW. IT IS A HUGE MARKETPLACE BUILT BY THE ZAPOTECS. MONTE ALBAN WAS BUILT ON THE TOP OF A 1300' MOUNTAIN. IT WAS FLATTENED BY HAND USING MAN POWER TO REMOVE THE DIRT. IT WAS THE MOST MONUMENTAL CEREMONIAL CENTER DATING FROM 1900 - 500 BC. IT WAS DEVELOPED IN 1500 BC AS A SMALL FARMING VILLAGE. . THE BURIAL SITE HAD OLMEC STYLE CERAMICS, ONE OF MEXICO'S FIRST REAL CITIES. BY 550 BC THERE WERE 25000 PEOPLE, MANY PEACEFULLY LEFT THE CITY... BY 350 AD THE POPULATION DROPPED TO 10,000. IT WAS A STATE SPONSORED SYSTEM OF CRAFT MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING.

THEY ALSO HAD AN OBSERVATORY. PEOPLE LIVED ON SEVERAL TERRACED SLOPES IN COMPOUNDS WITH KITCHENS AND SMALL RESERVOIRS. MANY BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY RECONSTRUCTED. THEY HAD A BALLCOURT ACCESSED BY ELITE RESIDENCES. THE PLAZA WAS A SACRED AREA, AND SEALED OFF DURING MANY DAYS. THE BUILDINGS HAD BEEN STUCCOED AND BEAUTIFULLY PAINTED. AFTER 700 AD THE PLAZA WAS ABANBDONED, EXCEPT FOR ELITE CEREMONIES. THEY BURIED ROYAL PEOPLE IN TOMBS. THEY HAD MANY STONE SCULPTURES DECORATING THE BUILDINGS. I REMEMBER TAKING PHOTOS OF THESE AS I VIEWED THE SITE.

TRAVELS TO TULA

I VISITED TULA WHEN I WAS 20 AND TRAVELED BY BUS TO TULA. I DISCOVERED A VERY NICE TOWN BUILT AROUND A PLAZA AS MOST TOWNS WERE. TULA WAS OCCUPIED FROM 800 - 1150 AD. THE PYRAMID OF QUETZALCOATL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STRUCTURE HERE. IT IS A 5 STEPPED PYRAMID WITH 4 TOLTEC STONE CARVED WARRIORS ON TOP OF IT. THERE WAS A ROOF ON TOP OF THESE FIGURES AS WELL.

TULA'S SOCIETY WAS TORN BY VIOLENCE AND STRIFE. APPARENTLY A GOD NAMED TEZCATLIPOCA, THE PATRON OF THE WAR, OPPOSED HIM. THE KING TOPILTZEN DROVE HIM FROM TULA ABOUT 1000 AD. THEN UNDER THIS GOD OF WAR, THE CITY WAS RULED. AFTER 500 YEARS CORTEZ FROM SPAIN CONQUERED PRECOLUMBIAN MESOAMERICA AND CONTROLLED PARTS OF CENTRAL MEXICO. I VISITED OTHER SITES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY AND WAS AMAZED AT IT'S HUGE SIZE. IN 1400 THE AZTEC NOBLES CLAIMED DECENT FROM THE TOLTEC RULERS AND GODS,

WILLIAM FERGUSON.

MY TRAVELS TO TEOTIHUACAN

WHEN I GRADUATED FROM WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY I TRAVELED TO MEXICO FOR A DIG AND THEN I TRAVELED DURING THE WEEKENDS TO DIFFERENT SIGHTS INCLUDING TEOTIHUACAN. THIS CITY WAS A RELIGIOUS CENTER FOR OVER 12,000 YEARS. IT MEANS THE PLACE WHERE MEN BECOME GODS. THE MEXICANS THOUGHT IT WAS THE PLACE CHOSEN BY THE GODS TO BEGIN THE 5TH REINCARNATION OF THEWORLD. IT WAS A MAJOR PREHISTORIC TRADE CENTER WITH OBSIDIAN SCULPTURES, WOODEN SCULPTURERS AND MANY DIFFERENT CRAFTS PEOPLE. BOWLS, MASKS, POTTERY, ETC. MADE FROM HERE HAVE BEEN FOUND IN ELITE BURIALS THROUGHOUT MEXICO. IT HAD A GREAT MARKETPLACE IN THE GREAT COMPOUND. I VISITED THE SITE WHEN I WAS ABOUT 20 AND LOVED PHOTOGRAPHING THE RICHLY PAINTED FRESCOS AND SCULPTURES OF THE SUN AND RAIN GODS. THE LORDS/KINGS HAD ELABORATE PALACE COMPOUNDS ARRANGED AROUND A COURT. NO OTHER PREHISTORIC CITY IN MEXICO HAD SO MANY PAINTED WALLS. THIS CITY INFLUENCED ALL THE CITIES IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO.

IN 900 YEARS IT GREW FROM 6000 - 120,O0O PEOPLE, AND INCLUDED AN 8 SQUARE MILE CITY THAT WAS ORIENTED N-S AND E-W WITH PYRAMIDS OF THE SUN AND MOON AND A TEMPLE OF QUETZALCOATL. RULERS AND CHIEFS CAME FROM THROUGHOUT MEXICO.

IT'S PEAK INFLUENCE WAS AD 500 - 650 AD. AT THAT TIME IT SHIFTED FROM A GOVERNMENT RULED BY PRIESTS TO A MORE SECULAR CONTROL. THERE WERE 2000 1 STORY APARTMENTS FOR THE COMMON FOLKS. I STUDIED THE ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT OF ALL OF THESE COMPOUNDS AND THE ENTIRE CITY IN GRADUATE SCHOOL. THE FARMERS LIVED ON THE PERIPHERY IN SMALL QUARTERS. THE CITY WAS BURNED IN 650 AD!

WILLIAM FERGUSON

Thursday, August 5, 2010

HIKING THE GRAND CANYON

MY HUSBAND AND I TRAVELED TO THE GRAND CANYON A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN WE WERE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AT ASU WE HIKED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON WITH OUR SMALL BACKPACKS. I THINK THERE WAS ONE DRINKING FOUNTAIN IN THE CENTER OF THE SLOPING HILL. WE MADE THE 8 MILE TRIP IN ONE DAY. WE PASSED MANY PEOPLE ON HORSEBACK AND FOUND SOME ON MULES. THE TRIP LOOKS OSTENTATIOUS WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN THE CLIFF SIDE. HOWEVER, WE WERE EXPERT HIKERS AND KNEW HOW TO PACE OURSELVES.

THE CANYON IS A PLACE OF SO MANY COLORS AND HUES THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE. YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT. THERE WERE FEW PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL WHEN WE WENT. LUCKILY WE WERE IN GOOD SHAPE SO THE TEMPERATURE DID NOT AFFECT US. THE AREA HAS MANY BEAUTIFUL TRAILS OTHER THAN THE MAIN TRAIL FROM THE SOUTH RIM. THERE ARE MANY PANORAMIC VIEWS AND DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUNSETS AND VARIOUS PLANTS ARE IN BLOOM. MOTHER NATURE IS AT IT'S BEST AND THE CANYON IS ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE ALSO HIKED THE GRAND CANYON AT KAUAI. IT HAS SIMILAR FEATURES TO THE ONE IN ARIZONA BUT IS MUCH SMALLER.
BEING IN THE CANYON YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE PART OF THE EARTH AND WELL CONNECTED TO IT. IT ALSO GIVES YOU A SPIRITUAL FEELING OF BEING TIMELESS AND AWESTRUCK WITH THE SPACE.

WE NEVER DID HIKE OFF THE MAIN TRAIL HERE TO FIND ANY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. I GUESS SOME PEOPLE HIKE DOWN AND HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP BY HELICOPTER SINCE THEY LACK THE STAMINA TO CLIMB UP!

THERE IS A SPECIAL THING ABOUT BEING IN THE CANYON WHICH IS THE ECHOES YOU MAKE AS YOU SHOUT OUT OR SING. IT IS QUITE LIKE A RESONANCE THAT YOU GET ONLY IN NATURE!

ONE OF OUR TRIPS WE STAYED AT A CAMPSITE AT THE BOTTOM OF LAKE HAVASUPI AND WENT SWIMMING THERE AND CLIMBED UP OVER THE BEAUTIFUL FALLS. SOMEDAY WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THAT TRIP AGAIN.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

SONOMA COUNTY FAIR

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE COUNTY FAIR WITH A GOOD FRIEND WHO WAS HARD TO LOCATE AS WE HAD DRIVEN TWO CARS. HE IS A SPIRITUAL MAN LOOKS AND TALKS LIKE MY HUSBAND'S DECEASED FATHER. HE IS A FATHER TO ME AS I NEVER HAD A FATHER AFTER I WAS 18. HOWEVER, I DID HAVE MY UNCLE NEARBY WHO HAD NO CHILDREN AND HE WAS LIKE OUR FATHER FOR YEARS AS WE DEVELOPED INTO OUR TWENTIES.

IN ANY CASE WE HAD A GOOD TIME AND THE WEATHER WAS JUST FINE. WE WALKED ABOUT 4 TO 6 MILES AND LOOKED AT ALL TYPES OF EXHIBITS. THE HALL OF FLOWERS WAS FULL OF LANDSCAPING EXHIBITS. THE THEME WAS GRAPES AS WE LIVE IN THE WINE COUNTRY. IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED AS COVERED WITH ALL SORTS OF GRAPES AND MOSTLY NON NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES. WE CHECKED OUT SOME HISTORIC GRAPE PRESSING MACHINERY AND SOME HISTORIC HOUSE FACADES.

WE VIEWED THE HALL OF FLOWERS THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF TEENS AND ADULTS WITH TATTOOS WHICH ARE BECOMING POPULAR! WE WENT INTO THE EXHIBIT HALL WITH ALL KINDS OF PRODUCTS AND I STOPPED TO DISCUSS SOME PHILOSOPHY WITH A JEWELRY SELLER FROM PERU. WE TRIED OUT SOME ERGONOMIC BEDS WHICH SUPPORT YOUR NECK AND BACK VERY WELL AND LIFT UP YOUR LEGS SO THAT YOU CAN LAY COMFORTABLY. THE OTHER THING IS THAT THEY HAD A GREAT NECK MASSAGER THAT HELPED MY NECK. HOPEFULLY I'LL GET ONE SOME DAY.
MY FRIEND DECIDED TO TRY A 30 MINUTE ELIMINATOR OF TOXINS FROM THE BODY BY IMMERSING THE FEET INTO WATER AND USING AN ELECTRODE ATTACHED TO THE ARM. AFTER IT WAS DONE THE WATER WAS BLACK. IT WAS AN UNUSUAL PROCESS AND HE FELT LIGHTER AND MORE ENERGY AFTER THIS - I GUESS HE NOTICED A DIFFERENCE OF SOMETHING TAKEN OUT OF HIS BODY.

I STOPPED BY A BOOTH THAT WAS DEMONSTRATING COOKWARE AND MAKING SALADS. I STOPPED PET THE BABY ANIMALS - GOATS, PIGS, MULE, LLAMA, A WOOLLY SHEEP, SHEEP, A DEER, AND WATCHED A GAL FEED A BABY KANGAROO.

WE VIEWED THE ARTIST'S EXHIBITS WHICH HAD FOODS, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND CHARCOAL DRAWING, SCULPTURES, KNITTING, SEWED ITEMS, AND PAINTINGS. A NEAT EXHIBIT WAS THE CARVING OF VEGETABLE SIN THE SHAPE OF ANIMALS! WE MISSED THE CAT AND DOG SHOWS, BUT SAW MANY FARM ANIMALS.

WE BOTH HAD SOME ICE CREAM AND I WAS QUITE EXHAUSTED FROM TALKING ALL DAY AND WALKING WITH MY FRIEND AS WELL AS GETTING MY CAR BATTERY JUMPED. I CAME HOME AND TOOK A COOL SHOWER ATE A BIG SALAD AND LAID IN BED WITH MY LEGS LIFTED UP. THEN FED AND PUT MY CATS TO BED.

OBSIDIAN AND OTHER STONE TOOL KNAPPING

SITES IN CALIFORNIA HAVE BEEN DATED USING A SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUE CALLED OBSIDIAN HYDRATION WHICH WAS DISCOVERED BY IRVING FREIDMAN IN 1960. IN ORDER TO DATE OBSIDIAN A DIAMOND SAW IS USED TO MAKE A SMALL CUT FROM A TOOL OR FLAKE THAT IS TO BE DATED. THE PIECE IS PUT UNDER A MICROSCOPE AND THERE IT IS SEEN AS A CERTAIN THICKNESS OF HYDRATION. IT IS MEASURED MEASURED IN MICRONS AND A CELEBRATION HAS BEEN REFINED SINCE THE 1960'S. DIFFERENT OBSIDIANS ABSORB WATER AT DIFFERENT RATES. FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE OBSIDIANS RATE OF HYDRATION INCLUDE TIME AS WELL AS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE OBJECT AND CHEMICAL.

ABOUT 20 OBSIDIAN QUARRIES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN CALIFORNIA. THERE PROBABLY ARE EVEN MORE QUARRIES. OBSIDIAN WAS THE PREFERRED MATERIAL AS IT IS EASIEST TO KNAP OR FLAKE OFF CHIPS FOR PROJECTILE POINTS AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY TOOLS NEEDED FOR PLANT PROCESSING AND ANIMAL HUNTING AND PROCESSING. IT IS THE EASIEST MATERIAL TO KNAP OR FLAKE OFF CHIPS FOR PROJECTILE POINTS. I HAVE TAKEN CLASSES IN KNAPPING OBSIDIAN AND FOUND IT VERY FUN.

MOST NATIVE AMERICANS FOUND THIS ROCK AS SPIRITUAL AS IT WAS MOLTEN GLASS FROM VOLCANIC EXPLOSIONS THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

SOME OF THE TOOLS ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND ARE: KNIVES, SCRAPERS, PLATFORM CORES, CHOPPERS, BIFACES, SHELL BEAD DRILLS, BONE SHARPENERS, CHOPPERS, BIFACES, SCRAPPERS FOR WILLOW AND OTHER BRANCHES USED FOR STRUCTURES AND BASKETS. THE PARENT ROCK IS CALLED THE CORE AND IT HAS CORTEX ON THE OUTSIDE. IT IS STRUCK BY ANOTHER HARD ROCK IN ORDER TO PRODUCE SMALLER FLAKES TO USE OR WORK INTO TOOLS. FLINT, JASPAR, CHERT, CHALCEDONY, BONE, AND QUARTZ WERE SOME OF THE STONES KNAPPED FOR TOOLS. EXPERIENCED KNAPPERS USE DIRECT PERCUSSION AND PRESSURE FLAKING TO FINELY SHAPE POINTS AND SCRAPERS. THEY USE ANTLERS AND BONE TOOLS FOR PRESSURE FLAKING. ISHI WAS STUDIED AT BERKELEY AND THEY NOTED HOW CAREFULLY HE KNAPPED AND PRESSURE FLAKED A PROJECTILE POINT USING AN AWL MADE OUT OF BONE. STONES WERE ALSO HEATED IN FIRE AND COOLED WITH WATER TO MAKE SHARP TOOLS EASIER.

Monday, August 2, 2010

CHICHEN ITZA

MY HUSBAND AND I TRAVELLED BY BUS AND STAYED IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL QUARTERS. IT IS SAID THAT ALL THE BAGS OF ARTIFACTS WERE EATEN BY COCKROACHES SO LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE DATING OF THE SITE. THERE IS GOOD INFORMATION ON BUILDINGS AND MURALS. THEY HAD AN EXCELLENT OBSERVATORY BUILDING. DATES ARE AMBIGUOUS. NUMEROUS PYRAMIDS SURROUND THE CAROSOL, OR OBSERVATORY. IT WAS ANOTHER WALLED CITY. IT PROBABLY WAS BUILT AROUND 1000 AD. THEY HAD A TRADE CENTER THERE FOR COTTON CLOTH, SLAVES, SALT, HONEY AND OTHER CITIES HERE WERE IMPORTANT TRADE CENTERS. THEY HAD A MOTIF OF THE FEATHERED SERPENT WHICH IS COMMON TO THE CHONTAL AREA.

CHICHEN ITZA TRANSLATES AS "MOUTH OF THE WELL". THE FIRST RULER WHO LED THIS CITY WAS KAKUPACAL. LATER IT WAS RULED BY CHONTAL MAYA, A MEXICAN. CHICHEN ITZA IS A GRAND SCALE OF TULA! I REMEMBER HUGE SCULPTED STONES LYING ISOLATED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE SITE AS WE TREKED ALL AROUND THE AREA.

IT IS IN A VERY BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE YUCATAN.

TULUM

TULUM IS ON THE COAST OF YUCATAN AND IS ON THE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT. IT HAS A LIGHTHOUSE AND HAS A WONDERFULLY FRESH PICTURESQUE ENVIRONMENT ON THE COAST. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED ABOUT 1200 AD AS A LANDING FOR BOATS AND CANOES. IT WAS BUILT ON A RIDGE AND PERHAPS 600 PEOPLE LIVED HERE. TULUM MEANS WALL IN THE MAYAN LANGUAGE. THEY FOUND SOME MULTICULTURAL MURALS AND THEY WERE NOT WELL PRESERVED WHEN I VISITED THE SITE WITH MY MOM AND HUSBAND AND FAMILY IN THE 80'S. A TEMPLE WAS BUILT FOR THE DIVING GOD IN 1450 AD.

SPANIARDS OVERTOOK THE SITE IN 1518 WHEN THE MAYANS WERE LIVING THERE. IT BECAME A CEREMONIAL CENTER FOR THE MAYANS INTO THE 1900'S. IT WAS BUILT OF STONE COVERED WITH WHITE PLASTER. THEY EXPORTED HONEY AND BEESWAX,

I REMEMBER WHEN WE VISITED THE SITE A GROUP OF MAYAN CHILDREN WANTED US TO GIVE THEM MONEY - THEY WERE KIND OF KIDDING ABOUT IT.

WILLIAM FERGUSON

TRAVELS TO UXMAL

IN THE 80'S MY HUSBAND AND I TRAVELED TO CANCUN AND THE YUCATAN ARCHAEOLOGY SITES AND WENT SWIMMING FOR A VACATION. UXMAL IS SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL OF MERIDA. WE TOOK OUR BACKPACKS AND TRAVELED BY BUS. IT IS 1000 YEARS OLD AND THERE WERE ARCHAEOLOGISTS DIGGING AT THE BASE OF THE PYRAMID OF THE MAGICIAN. IT IS A VERY TALL PYRAMID WITH EXCELLENT STONE WORK AND WHAT THEY CALLED PUUK STYLE ARCHITECTURE. THE MODERN MAYA CUT AND BURNED THEIR CROPS AND PLANTED THEIR CROPS LIKE THE PREHISTORIC FOLKS DID. LORD CHOC UINAL KAM AND HIS SON WERE RULERS OF UXMAL IN 800 AD. ARCHITECTURE SUGGESTS THEY WERE MAYAN, BUT THEIR IS A FEATHERED SERPENT AND SKULL AND BONES CARVING. THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP OF RULING PEOPLE BETWEEN UXMAL AND CHICHEN ITZA DURING 800 AD BASED ON ARCHIVAL NOTES.

ALL THE PUUC CITIES DATE TO LATE CLASSIC MAYA, AND IN THE SOUTH THEY WERE ABANDONED. UXMAL WAS PROBABLY ABANDONED BEFORE THE TOLTECS ARRIVED AT CHICHEN ITZA. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE LIVING THERE. THERE IS A HOUSE OF THE GOVERNOR, THE NUNNERY, AND PYRAMID OF THE MAGICIAN TO THE NORTH. THEY PICKED THE STONES OF THESE PYRAMIDS WITH OBSIDIAN OR GRANITE TOOLS TO FIT CLOSELY TOGETHER. THE DESIGNS CARRIED RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE. CHAC, THE SUPERNATURAL RAIN GOD, IS THERE. THIS SITE HAS ARTISTIC SKILL IN HOW THE CITY WAS LAID OUT AS WELL AS HOW THE BUILDINGS WERE DESIGNED. IT SHOWS A MIXING OF MAYAN AND PUUC MOTIFS AND THE ART AT UXMAL IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING OF MESOAMERICAN PREHISTORIC CITIES. THERE IS A STONE WALL THAT SURROUNDS THE CITY. I REMEMBER WALKING ON IT TO NOT GET TANGLED IN THE BRUSH.

WILLIAM FERGUSON

THE USE OF MOCCASINS IN CALIFORNIA

MOCCASINS WERE TYPICALLY SEWED UP THE FRONT AND UP THE HEEL. THEY HAD A HIGH ANKLE EXTENSION WHICH WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO GO ABOUT 4 INCHES ABOVE THE ANKLE. THE YUROK, HUPA, MAIDU, MIWOK, AND MODOC MOCCASINS WERE OUT OF DEERSKIN AND WERE LOW CUT. CLEARLAKE POMO MADE SOME OF OPEN TWINED TULE AS WELL AS LEGGINGS. EXTRA SOLES AND INSULATION WERE ADDED FOR WARMTH. THERE WERE MOCCASINS MADE FOR RUNNING WITH EXTRA SOLES. SHASTA INDIANS STUFFED THEM WITH MOSS FOR INSULATION AND WRAPPED THEIR FEET WITH SQUIRREL, BEAR, OR FOX HIDE. SHASTA AND KAROK FOLKS WORE BUCKSKIN LEG WRAPPINGS UP TO THE HIP.

TWINED TULE LEGGINGS WERE MADE FOR THE ANKLE UP TO THE HIP FOR POMO AND KLAMATH AND MANY OTHER INDIANS. TULE MOCASSINS WERE COMMON FOR COLD WEATHER AND ESPECIALLY GOOD WADING IN ICY CONDITIONS. THESE WINTER MOCCASINS WERE WORN BY THE KLAMATH, ACHUMAWI, AND ATSUGEWI FOR WARMTH. THEY WERE STUFFED FOR GRASS WITH WARMTH. THEY LACED THEM ON THE SIDE. FOR TRAVELING THEY MADE SHOES OF SWAMPGRASS. THE COAST MIWOK WORE THEM ONLY OCCASIONALLY.

PAUL CAMPBELL