Description

Shaman’s Cave at Dawn

The alcove in this image has many names:  Shaman’s Cave, Robber’s Roost, and Hide Out Cave.  Legend has it that the alcove was once used as a hide out by robbers, hence the names. Supposedly it was also used by moonshiners during prohibition.  It is unknown whether this is the case.  What is certainly true is that the alcove was used by the Sinagua people who lived in the region from 1150 to 1350 AD.  There are several metates ground into the floor.  Metates were used by the Sinagua for grinding corn and grain. The image to the left was taken shortly after dawn in late summer. The haze at the horizon and the orange glow is due to smoke from a wildfire.