This story probably arose from living in a land composed of volcanic ash and theorizing based on observation. The geology is astonishing and so evocative.

And the “seeing without seeing” aspect leads us back to the discussion in the next post, doesn’t it?

Fascinating - the Anasazi.

I also saw the hand when I looked at the photograph, but not when I was taking it. Ironically, there are often real handprints of various types left by former inhabitants.

I had not noticed the hand before.

Pic #3 does have a sweet touch, hi, Mom the little says one with its mouth open.

In the the third pic (and slightly so in the fourth), there seems to be an enormous handprint in the cliff. I like the relative proportion of the dwelling to environs in #3, but the “hand” seems alternately humorous (Hi, Mom!) and sinister.

Yes, the integration with the environment is one of the most fascinating aspects. Of course, the construction materials are the local rock, mud, and sticks. One of the problems photographically is to help the structures stand out rather than completely blend in.

In this case, there were several other ruins remaining within a few hundred yards, and there were probably others that have left little or no trace.

As for ghosts, I do almost feel sometimes I can see people moving about, grinding corn at the metates, etc.

Somehow I missed noticing that an earlier comment never posted, but I agree that there is a certyain snugness in the way the ruins are often carefully fitted into the surrounding rock, including previously fallen slabs that are too huge to move. What’s most scary is sometimes the getting up or down to them.