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Show Michael Marshall, who is studying the Anasazi road system, reports that crescent shaped structures are found along the roads in the Chacoan region. They suggest shrines or altars, although very little turquoise has been found associated with them. Called "herreduras" (or horseshoes) by researchers, he notes that a large example of one was found on the Zuni Salt Lake trail. 208 Marshall inspected portions of the Zuni Salt Lake road and found one section that a was "a well-developed roadway similar to the Chacoan roads." One section was 300 meters long and four meters wide. "The trail as it passes across the open grasslands is defined by a low swale and a linear concentration of snakeweed." Where it goes over basalt an irregular curbing had been formed by moving blocks to the sides. "Pueblo III (A.D. 1100-1300) ceramics were observed scattered along the road corridor." Crescentic and ring structures were found adjacent to the road, built of basalt, originally 75 cm to 1.5 m high and not roofed, opening to east. 209 According to Marshall, Chacoan roads meet the following four criteria: 1) aerial alignment, or ground visibility; 2) artifact scatter; 3) shrines or structures along the route; 4) a reason for the route-point of departure and destination. Although most Chacoan roads seem to go from one high spot to another, and can be maintained by visible features on the horizon, he reports evidence that suggests 208. Interview with Michael Marshall, March 20, 1986, Albuquerque, New Mexico, by E. Richard Hart, with assistance from T. J. Ferguson and Ronald Stauber. Marshall, Michael "Solstice Project: The Mountain Shrines," draft incomplete, ms from author. Marshall, Michael "The Solstice Project: Crescentiform Architecture in the Chacoan Province, ms. from author. 209. Marshall, Michael "Zuni Salt Lake-Jaralosa North," ms. from author. - 138 - |
