A benefit of oil & gas exploration

[MonikaC]

Cruising around the oil & gas roads in SE Utah, this restored kiva rewards those miles of dusty roads. Unfortunately, as talented as my dog is, she doesn't know how to throw dust in the air for a classic sunbeam shot. Neither does my husband, as he threw handfuls of dirt with rocks & dirt clogs down at me....

 

[Ben Egbert]

Very nice image Monica

 

[AlanLichty]

Is that a restoration or a replica? The holes in the floor support a restoration but the uniformity of the masonry almost suggests a replica.

Nice image in either case and I like the sunlight without the tossed sand highlights.

Disclaimer - a lot of predictive modeling research we did during the 1980's at the University of Utah Archaeological Center was funded by oil and gas exploration companies.

 

[MonikaC]

As far as I know (which isn't very far), it's a restored kiva but the ladder is new (and safe to descend/ascend). It's called 3 Kiva Pueblo, but only 1 remains above ground. The other 2 were probably excavated enough to determine their existence, then covered back up.

There are a number of pictographs between I-70 & Meeker that were discovered with the oil & gas exploration, and have been preserved.

 

[AlanLichty]

As far as I know (which isn't very far), it's a restored kiva but the ladder is new (and safe to descend/ascend). It's called 3 Kiva Pueblo, but only 1 remains above ground. The other 2 were probably excavated enough to determine their existence, then covered back up.

There are a number of pictographs between I-70 & Meeker that were discovered with the oil & gas exploration, and have been preserved.

I'd be surprised if the woodwork is completely original. It's very well done as a restoration. It is possible to get this kind of preservation but only in a highly protected location like a full shelter alcove and it wouldn't need much restoration at all if that were true.

I will be wandering along a path very near to this place in a couple of weeks. Looks like it might be worth a side trip

 

[MonikaC]

I'd be surprised if the woodwork is completely original. It's very well done as a restoration. It is possible to get this kind of preservation but only in a highly protected location like a full shelter alcove and it wouldn't need much restoration at all if that were true.

I will be wandering along a path very near to this place in a couple of weeks. Looks like it might be worth a side trip

It's far enough in that you'll likely hit it around midday, which is the right time for the sunbeam. There's lots of rock art along the way, including cranes, which I've never seen anywhere else, though there are some rumored to be north of Chaco.

 

[JimFox]

This is very cool Monika. What a neat experience.

Now you just need to teach your dog or husband how to throw proper sand and you will be in business!

 

[AlanLichty]

Just looked at a bunch of info online for that site. What got my attention with your shot was how clean the rafters were relative to what accumulates over the course of 700 years. Images online show the ones directly above and behind where you shot your image from do look original. Makes it a little more clear what had to be restored.

The direction you shot makes a nicer picture.

 

[Mike Mancil]

An excellent shot and interesting architecture. It’s very hard to get good help ... Mike

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Cruising around the oil & gas roads in SE Utah, this restored kiva rewards those miles of dusty roads. Unfortunately, as talented as my dog is, she doesn't know how to throw dust in the air for a classic sunbeam shot. Neither does my husband, as he threw handfuls of dirt with rocks & dirt clogs down at me....
View attachment 7512

This is truly beautiful, Monika. I like you and Alan love ruins, petroglyphs, and pictographs.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

It's far enough in that you'll likely hit it around midday, which is the right time for the sunbeam. There's lots of rock art along the way, including cranes, which I've never seen anywhere else, though there are some rumored to be north of Chaco.

There is a beautiful crane/heron petroglyph near Butler Wash near Bluff, UT.

 

[AlanLichty]

There is a beautiful crane/heron petroglyph near Butler Wash near Bluff, UT.

Do you happen to recall any more details on that panel? There are a couple of them I am going to try to visit in a couple of weeks along the Lower Butler Wash Rd. starting right near Bluff. At the moment my thought is to spend a couple of nights in Bluff after I get tired of shooting in the Bisti.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Do you happen to recall any more details on that panel? There are a couple of them I am going to try to visit in a couple of weeks along the Lower Butler Wash Rd. starting right near Bluff. At the moment my thought is to spend a couple of nights in Bluff after I get tired of shooting in the Bisti.

I'll see if I can find it.

I am thinking that Alan needs to work on a travel guide for the Oregon Coast now....

I will have to think about the size of the photo's. I did like the look of the smaller photos in my Yosemite guide as I thought it felt a bit more like a book. But then I also liked your larger size on your guides also. It would be nice to come up with a common size for all of the travel guides we do, so perhaps we just let that aspect simmer for a while and maybe in a month or two we can come up with a consensus.[/QUOTE]​

This is a very secret place so send me a PM with your email and I'll try to get the information to you. I think I can find it but it has been a while.

 

[MonikaC]

Do you happen to recall any more details on that panel? There are a couple of them I am going to try to visit in a couple of weeks along the Lower Butler Wash Rd. starting right near Bluff. At the moment my thought is to spend a couple of nights in Bluff after I get tired of shooting in the Bisti.

The cranes I've seen were off the Montezuma Rd - have to check when I'm back in town to post those petros. The BLM guy in Monticello also told me about a 6' tall "spider-man" on the basalt, which I have not been able to find. He said it has to be an overcast day to see it. Kind of rare to get overcast but not rain/slick roads. There's a 3-storey cliff structure further north of the kiva, but you'll need a big lens to shoot it. I didn't have one, so I haven't tried. There's also a modern one on the north part of the road close to the vineyards (if they're still there) as well as the fake "Moki steps" somebody dynamited into the cliff wall.

There's also the panel by the boat launch by Bluff- so dense it's pretty overwhelming.