Field Trip to the Casa Grande Ruins

This week we began learning about the Hohokam. Since we are fortunate enough to live so close, we took a field trip to the Casa Grade Ruins. The is a Hohokam compound from the Classic Era around 1300 AD. There is a great house surrounded by smaller structures.

Here Wes is standing in front of a wall of one of the smaller buildings.


The Hohokam positioned certain round windows in the great house to align perfectly with the sun. There are windows marking both the Summer Solstice and both the Spring and Autumn Equinox.



Here's Wes in front of one side of the great house. The ancient setting inspired a "Walk like an Egyptian" pose.


Here's a picture I took leaning into one of the windows of the great house. I wanted to record the inside and what the floor and walls looked like. The house was built on a platform perhaps to protect it from flash floods.


This is my favorite photo of the day. I like the sense of depth and the contrast created by the blue sky.