Sample Chimney Rock Special Events Here.

The Forest Service has accomplished an excellent demonstration exhibit of the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area.  The Interpretive Association has grown with this progress and the combination offers a personal experience for visitors. The Cultural Gathering, held annually, expands and intensifies this experience.

It is altogether fitting that the dancers are allowed to use the ancient kiva for their performances. The kiva was built by the ancestors of the Puebloans, the original inhabitants of the Chimney Rock Pueblo. When this gathering began it was the first time dancer’s feet had touched this ground in 900 years. The two major differences are that 900 years ago the dances were done for important and specific purposes related to the wellbeing of the tribe, and the kiva was roofed, making it more private for the people involved. It would also have been much cooler in the semi underground and roofed chamber. 

The dancers come from several New Mexico and Arizona Pueblos along with the Jicarilla Apache. The puebloans were from Zuni, Acoma, Hopi, San Felipe and San Juan Pueblos. Many of the standard dances, such as the Buffalo and Eagle Dances, are performed with back-up chanting and drums.

 

 
It was noted that the dances, among other things, are done to promote rain. The audience looked up to see a big black thunderhead cloud rising from what had been a cloudless blue sky. It sprinkled. It was a goosebump moment!
 
  

The magical sound of the Native American flute, accompanied by the full moon in the ancient surroundings of Chimney Rock is a summer staple in southwest Colorado. Visitors to Chimney Rock Monument can enjoy this experience as the popular Native American flute player, Charles Martinez, accompanies this educational program.

 

Martinez, who is a native Pagosan of Jicarilla Apache and Navajo heritage, is a master of the traditional style of Indian flute playing and a local crowd pleaser of many years.


 

It is a learning – and doing – experience at Chimney Rock  as lessons  provide the arts and crafts of the Ancestral Puebloans.  Participants learn to replicate Pueblo III Mesa Verde, black-on-white, organically painted pottery. Participants gained an understanding of the fundamentals of craftsmanship, design, and prehistoric technology required to create and fire this ancient pottery, as they hand formed, burnished, decorated, and trench kiln fired the pottery using only prehistoric methods.
It’s all about the hands! The making of a paint brush from yucca fiber is shown here. A bone tool is used to flatten and scrape away all but the fibers, resulting in a brush used to paint designs on the pots.

 
Greg Wood, standing with camera, watches over the pottery students as designs are applied.

 
Lindsey Morgan, above, and Karen Aspen, below, apply complicated designs to the pot surface. The actual paint is applied later, and the pots were “fired” in a pit.

 

 

 
 

 
Tha action sport of atlatl (at-lat-el) throwing was also available. Before they developed or learned about the bow and arrow, the Puebloans used a “throwing stick.” The spear fit in a notch on the atlatl which lengthed the arm and made for a faster and longer throw. The atlatl took a high level of skill