Dear Glenn,
    I hope it is the early part of May since schools start to get out and
then the crowds... Start with the Heard Museum in Phoenix, then on to the
Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Both are excellent. I went to
school and grew up not far from the Southwest...was even a Park
Ranger/Archaeologist at Mesa Verde National Park but it is crowded most of
the time. I think the Mancos Canyon-Tribal Park (Sorry I can't remember the
exact name but it's at the bottom area adjoining Mesa Verde and less
developed) has had good reviews since it is organized and carefully kept low
use by the Southern Utes. There is a Four Corners Anasazi Cultural Center in
Cortez (?) or Ignacio. Mesa Verde is nice but if you just want the feeling
drive up early or around sunset and do the Rim Drive and maybe do one tour
of Balcony House or Spruce Tree House and stop in the Museum. Cliff Palace
is usually the most crowded. Some of the best sites to tour would be fairly
out of your way unless you have time and a reliable car, Wupatki is nice and
Bandelier (in AZ)for Puebloan Culture. Drive up to Denver through Durango,
then up through South Pass and it's beautiful country. The Denver Museum of
Natural History has a Native American Wing that's good. I've also heard but
not seen in Cody, WY the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is great. Somewhere
between AZ and ID in N. Utah is a Fremont Culture Museum that is remarkable.
If you have patience with someone who is up too late and can't organize her
thoughts well...I think these are good tips. I am a bit of and
archaeological recluse too but have yet to get over to England where I can
appreciate touring much the same way. Have a good trip.  Diane Rice
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Foard <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, April 17, 1998 4:59 PM
Subject: Indian sites in Arizona / Utah / Colorado
 
 
>I am an English archaeologist who is quite unfamiliar with the archaeology
>of the 'New World' (apart from battlefield archaeology) who would like some
>advice on native american sites in the South West. I am on holiday in the
>area in May this year and would like to take in visits to a few sites but
do
>not want to simply follow the most obvious tourist haunts just because they
>are the most visited sites - I know from my experience of European
>archaeology how unrepresentative such 'honeypot' sites can sometimes be.
>Could anyone suggest a few places I might consider visiting to get a good
>broad impression of the character of native american life in the region
over
>the last thousand years? Also can anyone recommend a good museum where we
>might get a good basic overview of native american cultures of the region -
>we will be driving up from Phoenix to Flagstaff , across to Denver, then
>back through Wyoming to Salt Lake City.
>
>I realise the request is rather simplistic but would welcome some
>suggestions.
>
>######################################
>Glenn Foard FSA
>County Archaeological Officer
>Northamptonshire Heritage
>Northamptonshire County Council
>PO Box 287
>27 Guildhall Road
>Northampton
>NN1 1BD
>England
>Tel: 01604 237243
>personal email:  [log in to unmask]
>work email: [log in to unmask]
>personal pages:    http://web.ukonline.co.uk/glenn.foard/webdoc8.htm
>Northamptonshire Heritage pages:
>http://web.ukonline.co.uk/glenn.foard/webdoc9.htm
>######################################