Michelle from Albuquerque sent me two new UNESCO sites for my collection: Taos Pueblo and Chaco culture. These sites represent some amazing engineering and cultural organization of the pre-Colombian native people who lived in northern New Mexico.
Chaco Culture Historical Park is in northwestern New Mexico. It represents the densest concentration of pueblos in the American Southwest. It was a cultural center for the Pueblo Peoples between 900 and 1150 BCE. This card shows the kiva of Chetro Ketl, a great house used for religious rituals. It consists of over 400 rooms. The buildings in Chaco Canyon were some of the largest in North America until the 19th century. The area was abandoned in the 12th century, likely due to drought.
Unlike Chaco Canyon, Taos Pueblo is still inhabited:
About 150 people live in the pueblo full-time. The pueblo was built approximately 1000 years ago. This card shows the north face of the building complex, supposedly one of the most photographed and painted buildings in North America. The doors are a very new addition to the pueblo. Traditionally one would enter one’s house through a ladder and hole in the the ceiling. Although doors were added in the 20th century, there is still no electricity or running water.
Michelle used one of my favorite stamps from 2013:
This stamp is called Sealed with Love. I tried to get some of these stamps at the post office this week, but apparently, no post office in Portland has them!
New Mexico has 3 UNESCO sites, so I just need to get one of Carlsbad Caverns to have them all. Thanks, Michelle!