Join Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Richard McGaugh November 17 for a visit to two of his favorite places, Honanki and Palatki. They were two of the largest cliff dwellings in the Red Rock country and occupied between 1150 – 1350 CE. The Southern Sinagua A name coined by Archaeologists occupied Honanki and Palatki during the (Honanki phase) through the (Tuzigoot phase).
The Ancestral Puebloan People called the Sinagua enjoyed the beauty of the red rocks just as we do today. They were first investigated and described by Dr. Jesse Walter Fewkes, turn-of-the century archaeologist for the Smithsonian Institution. A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required on all vehicles parked at our cultural sites.
We will meet at Honanki at 9:30 using the following directions.
Take Hwy. 89A through West Sedona and continue past the last traffic light for five miles. Just past mile marker 365, turn right onto Forest Road 525. Follow Forest Road 525 for 9.5 miles. Just past the cattleguard at Loy Canyon trailhead you will bear to the left to go around some private property.
Alternative Route from Sedona: those with high-clearance vehicles and/or a sense of adventure can turn right on Dry Creek Road off 89A and follow the signs for Enchantment Resort/Loy Butte. At the road to the Enchantment Resort, turn left onto Boynton Pass Road (FR 152C), and follow the signs for Loy Butte/Palatki (FR 525 to FR 795, pass FR 795 and continue up 525 2.5 miles to Honanki).
Next, we will visit Palatki. We will take a break midway with a picnic. Remember to bring water, sturdy shoes, appropriate apparel, snacks and lunch.
Richard is from a fourth-generation Verde Valley family and has spent his time studying and exploring Central and Northern Arizona. Richard volunteers as a Verde Valley Archaeology Center “Docent”, He is a “VIP Interpretative Ranger” at Walnut Canyon National Monument and Wupatki/ Sunset Crater National Monuments, and a Museum of Northern Arizona “Docent”.
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