[Source: Ron Dungan, Arizona Republic] -- You can see for miles on Arizona 87 as it comes down the flats of the Hopi Reservation. The mesas fall behind, miles go by and the road vanishes into the horizon until a few hills push up from the earth. The Hopi called this place Homol'ovi, which means "place of the little hills." Their ancestors came here about 1260 to make a life on the edge of the Little Colorado River, building homes of stone and planting crops. Homolovi Ruins State Park doesn't have the large structures and towers found at some archaeological parks. Most of the walls have crumbled. Wind and rain have worn them down until only a few stones remain. You look at the rubble, read the signs along the way and look out at the land. The walls and the land tell stories that archaeologists try to piece together.Each summer they conduct classes, digging until they have exposed more of the walls, then covering up their work. The Hopi feel strong ties to Homol'ovi and visit often. Tribal members hold cultural workshops in the park; several are planned in the upcoming months. Artists will demonstrate their crafts, speakers will address subjects ranging from medicinal herbs to dry farming. On July 7, Suvoyuki Day will feature a corn roast, a 2K and 5K run at sunrise and a program by Hopi dancers. Archaeologists and tribal members will be on hand. The celebration is a joint effort of the Hopi people, Arizona State Parks, and the Homolovi Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society. Although the area shows signs of small-scale use as early as 600, it became a gathering place in the 1200s as villages in the Four Corners began to collapse. The park has two ruins, Homol'ovi I and II, for visitors to examine, although eight ruins scattered throughout the area once comprised the site. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
