Some views of the Great Kiva
View
from Right: This what a kiva would have
looked like in the Anasazi period. The fire in the center vents through
the roof.
Upclose
and Center: This is the
ceremonial fire center. This fire would be the only light source
inside the kiva. This would draw all attention towards it and bring
the people together in a circle.
The
Ladder is the only way in or out of the kiva from
the top. There is also a staircase that is used by the priests to
bring ceremonial processions to a begining. The steps, as mentioned
before, signify the entrance to the underworld, a place inhabited by spirits.
The
Corner of a Kiva was where
the common people would have been during a ceremony. The view you
are looking at is what most Anasazi saw. You can only imagine a great
chief or medicine man with his hands raised in chant to the Great Spirit
or Rain God. This is a real treat for the eye. Through the
use of modern technology, we can once again glimpse scenes from the past.
Notice all of the decoration and structural beams along the roof.
Post-Ceremonialscenes
like this one are interesting to look for details in. You can see the pottery
styles used by the Anasazi as well as the placement of the objects themselves.
Also, there is a stone sitting behind the fire. This was placed there
to create a backdraft that would carry smoke through the roof. This
is directly opposite the stairway enterance, from which a breeze would
come. The kiva was not filled with smoke, as we have seen because
of small advances in aerodynamics such as this. This is the
New World's version of the chimney.
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