Deming, NM (1/1 &1/2/2018)

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope it will be an exciting and rewarding year for us all.

The campground I stayed at in Deming is owned by a group called Loners On Wheels, singles who travel by RV, or live permanently in one.  They are a great group of friendly and welcoming people.  Unfortunately, the members (like me) are getting along in years and they don't seem to be adding younger members.  Consequently, there aren't the parties I heard about from the "old days".  However, once my interest in petroglyphs was known, we had a volunteer to lead us to a good location.  Five of us went to an area north of town called Pony Hills on Google maps, but locals have never heard it called that.  Regardless, it was a fun day with the group, and I went back a second day to explore some of the many side roads that criss-cross the desert.

Last sunset of 2017

The first photo below shows part of the hill we climbed, taken about two-thirds the way up.  Next is the view across toward the Cooke Range.

This area was home to the Mimbres Mogollon culture from about 800 to 1250.  Although these people were related to the Anasazi, there are significant differences.  Some of the petroglyphs we saw are unlike any I've seen before.  The pottery made by these people was unique, with all the decorations inside the pieces.  Many examples have been found almost intact, with human and animal figures painted inside, as well as complex geometric patterns.  Too bad all the pottery seems to have already been found, so we saw none of it.  Here are a few of the petroglyphs, some of which were etched on the "floor" of the area we were walking.  I'm sure many people have walked right on top of them.

Some are the typical animal images, although the rattlesnake is very pronounced.  There are many sets of feet, contrasting with the Anasazi practice of drawing hands.  Several images we referred to as ghosts, but there's no way of knowing the artist's intent.

We also found a hole in the rock used for grinding corn, pinon nuts, etc.  Quite different than the Anasazi metates.

Other hills had boulder fields similar to the one we were on, so it's likely that some of them also contain petroglyphs.  Our leader knew of another location, but it was too far to go for our remaining time.

We also ran across the remains of old mines.  Nearby are the ruins of Fort Cummings, staffed in the 1860's by the "Buffalo Soldiers", as the Indians referred to African-American army troops, but there was no time to visit there.  Lots to do next time.

The first sunset of 2018 coincided with the "super" moon, and a nice sunrise started the second day of the year.

While driving around the desert the next day on my own, a herd of about twenty pronghorns crossed the road in front of me.  Once they were at a safe distance, one of them gave me the usual stare, making a nice pose.