Sacred Landscape The Mother River Natural border though cultural and environmental area extends on both sides

s People on one side are Keepers of the Sun; those on the other are Keepers of the Rain When people come for the pilgrimage, they ferry across on rafts. Head man and woman stand or kneel in full regalia to arrive. Raft is decorated with spears topped by leaves and flowers, fox heads and tails. A ramada is set up for the chiefs to watch the parade They go through a cleansing ritual when they read the north side, in order to prepare for the ceremonies Other times, they may come across without ceremony for commerce Rock Shelters Are female, shelter, life-giving, growth At the lower canyon, the walls are about 20 meters (65 ft) apart; the west wall rises about 35 meters (100 feet) almost vertically Tinajas in the solid limestone canyon floor can hold water for days, weeks, or months Large overhanging roof on the shelter Even blowing rain scarcely penetrates the dusty dry cave Some shelters have springs seeping from the walls The entrance to the cave (Hinds Cave) is about 65 feet above the canyon floor. It can be reached in two ways: 1) from the canyon floor, the fastest route is a nearly vertical climb up the rugged cliff face; 2) from the uplands a person can cling to sheer rock on tiny ledges or goat trails. Either way is very difficult. This makes it a good refuge. Faces northeast. Hot and sunny on summer mornings, but cool in the afternoon. Rock rattlesnakes, bats, scorpions, canyon wrens, digging wasps, and bumblebees also live in the cave The main body of the shelter is cold and breezy in winter because wind comes from down the canyon. Near the back walls, the temperature is more stable, and people likely huddled there on very cold days. Four Areas Uplands Edge Canyon River Uplands are dry and have very little surface water. 100 years ago used to have decent soil and grasses and small trees. Probably better 2800 BP when bison came to graze. Deer and antelope browsed under the stunted trees. No one stayed on the uplands for long, but camped here temporarily to hunt or forage, or to witness ceremonies.

The Edge of the canyon and the uplands is a transitional zone where most of the sotol, lechugilla, and prickly pear grow. This would have been good foraging area for the people. Outcrops of chert nodules. Limestone chunks. People could live on the edges for a good while with plenty to gather. Many earth ovens here. Canyons could have been thickly vegetated with trees, brush, and vines. Little black walnut trees, mustang grapes. Tinajas and springs. Rock shelters. Rock rattlesnakes, bats, scorpions, canyon wrens, digging wasps, and bumblebees also live in the cave River banks were major residential areas. Under trees, near water. People gathered mussels, turtles, and frogs, as well as fish. Major flooding was always a concern.