This Ancient Ruin Shouldn't Be In Such Perfect Condition!

#exploring #googleearth #americansouthwest #ruins #nativeamerican #thetrekplanner #ancienthistory #explore #googleearthfind #hiking
🌟 If you want to see my videos early, bonus content, and 3D models of sites that I visit on my trips, please support me on Patreon!
➡️ / jefftjohnson
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I hope you enjoyed this adventure! It means so much to me that you spent the time watching it. If you enjoyed this, please consider subscribing. I strive to bring relatively unknown, odd, unique, and special places to you each week from the American Southwest!
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Thanks again to Dan Lowe! Please visit his site at www.Tuscoro.com
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👍How to be a respectful visitor to these places👍
Native American groups still live in this area and beyond today. These places are still special and hold significance.
1️⃣Don't climb on walls or structures. Don't lean on or climb over them. Many places don't even need to be visited up close. View these places from a distance or with binoculars.
2️⃣Do not touch the rock art. Don't touch or create new rock art to preserve ancient stories.
3️⃣ Leave All Artifacts. Leave artifacts and structures undisturbed to maintain their historical significance. It is illegal and wrong to take artifacts. If you want something to take home, support local tribes by buying their handicrafts and jewelry.
4️⃣ Manage Waste Responsibly. Use waste bags; don't leave human or pet waste behind. Don't 'go' near cultural sites.
5️⃣ Camp With Care. Don't camp near historical sites. No fires near these areas, and ensure all waste is packed out. Don't make fires in caves or alcoves. Camp in designated spots only. When you leave, make sure to make the site cleaner and better than when you found it. Pick up extra trash you may see.
6️⃣ Control Your Pets. Don't let pets roam freely near archaeological areas to prevent destruction. Pets are not allowed in or near sites.
7️⃣ Preserve Fragile Areas. Don't disturb fossils and please protect delicate soil and plant life.
8️⃣ Follow Rules. Don't engage in illegal actions such as building cairns, or using climbing gear to access archaeological sites.
9️⃣ Obey Drone Rules and Laws. Numerous locations in the American Southwest and beyond, such as the Navajo Reservation, Wilderness Study Areas, and various restricted spaces, enforce strict drone usage prohibitions. It is crucial to not only honor the legacy of the people who once inhabited these areas but also show respect for the present-day residents and adhere to their local laws, customs and regulations.
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NOTE: I don't claim that I am the first person to "discover" these places. I just find things on Google Earth and want to go see what they are!
I do not claim to be an expert on anthropology, geology, or archaeology. I say that my channel is about "amateur archaeology". I don't have a degree or formal training in archaeology. I am just a hiker who loves to explore and see new things especially the ancient history in the American Southwest. This is what my channel is about. I hope you stick around and explore with me!
I do not give out locations to the places in my videos. I take seriously the responsibility to protect and respect these ancient places. If you do find/visit one of these locations, please visit respectfully. I try my best to hide noticeable landmarks, mountains, and canyons in my videos.

[@DunkelRuhrOutdoors]

The little one is pure Gold! Good to see 3 men explore the wilderness. This is how to make memories for a lifetime!

[@TheTrekPlanner]

This will always be one of my favorites for that reason

[@howardb.6205]

well said, absolutely!

[@mirandamom1346]

Given that the structure is so exposed to the elements, the preservation is amazing!

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

Me thinks it was rebuilt. Maybe by natives 200+ years ago. It wouldn't stand 1000 years.

[@obsidianjane4413]

Its not old.

[@cassieweldon9125]

I would think that using the flat stones would certainly add to the stability of the structure......

[@merk9569]

@@JamesJones-cx5pk. Why would they have rebuilt it? Especially 200 years ago? Europeans were in the area. I don’t see why Native Americans would have spent so much effort building something like that unless it had a significant use. I can’t imagine what it would be.

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

@@merk9569 If it was a ruin and all of the rocks were at the base, it would easily be rebuilt for the same purpose.

[@paulapridy6804]

Owen has a cool dad and uncle to show him places and things only a small percentage of folks get to be aware of. Lucky guy

[@edhazlewood124]

By the way, your idea for a 3-D model library is AWESOME! Some day it may be the best information we have about a site that may disappear due to erosion or vandalism.

[@sheep1ewe]

Which software did he use for this?

[@edhazlewood124]

@@sheep1ewe I don't know but I am sure he would tell you.

[@sheep1ewe]

@@edhazlewood124 Thank You, i would love to try this with pictures of a bronze age site close to where i live so it could be presented on a webpage for people to see.

[@ppodoentbeast]

This is absolutely one of the most incredible ones you’ve ever filmed. I have watched many of your videos, but there’s something about this one. It’s the large flat pieces and how they’re stacked and how well they’ve handled wind and stood the test of time. I agree with you I don’t think much has fallen, it’s amazing. thank you for sharing this with us.

[@kayhansen9229]

Yes I have to agree with everybody there's you and that other guy and I've seen so many of these wonderful ruins that I would have never even imagined that this many existed! I'm an American raised out in California and Texas but I never knew so many of these things were around especially all of the little cliff dwelling so high up in every nook and cranny it seems like the plateau or desert Southwest was just a neighborhood just full of these things everywhere. I wonder if there are estimates or guesstimates of how many homes are scattered throughout this whole region.

[@TheTrekPlanner]

I really appreciate that! This will always be one of my favorites! Thanks for watching!

[@Ddax-td7qy]

Hard to imagine building it. Did they pry up flat stones to "cannibalize" the original top? I guess they had some kind of reed/twine ropes. But water is so heavy! So far! So many of these ruins scream last-ditch desperation. Awesome, yet sad.

[@catpatrick3838]

Incredible how intact it is. Very little has fallen despite the elements it is exposed to. Amazing!

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

That was the perfect time to play Jimmy Hendrix." All along the watch tower said the joker to the thief".😂

[@merk9569]

Bob Dylan

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

@@merk9569 Hendrix did it better.😮

[@kayhansen9229]

Try Fleetwood Mac's hypnotized, from way back.

[@carebearann4613]

Kitaro. "SILK ROAD"

[@skyeseaborn1170]

Amazing adventure! Owen, and Brian were fun too. Thanks so much for letting us tag along with you guys.

[@user-wm3bf7pi3u]

On a different video recently Jeff said he thought the walls on the structure were defensive, but they were on the path at sections with a long drop. I suggested they could have been used as defense but that they could be there to prevent hyperactive children from falling off... I bet with Owen he and Brian may have had a few heart stoppers on this one.

[@joewenzel5142]

It amazes me how you find these things.

[@lamarw7757]

Google Earth. It's not hard to find them.

[@user-ml5yw8tf8b]

I've been following your channel for a while, and this site blew me away! How did they build this? How much erosion has occurred since its creation? Who were these people, and what was their life like? Thank you for reiterating to your followers to respect and not desecrate the ruins.

[@sueball595]

That tower baffles the imagination. I agree with you-how did they climb up there, hauling rocks and other supplies? How many guys lost their lives during its construction? It just reinforces how truly amazing the ancients were.

[@garytull7730]

Doesn't appear to be any mortar used, incredible how well preserved it is. The wind must blast through that area frequently, the builders did a great job of interlacing the rocks for maximum strength. Thanks again for a great trip.

[@AlwaysCheckmateNeverStalemate]

Or maybe the mortar disintegrated due to the wind and erosion...

[@Pax.Alotin]

@@AlwaysCheckmateNeverStalemate Mortar would not have been needed - because of the type of rock used ----- I built 'dry-stone walls' like this for a living. The opening shot - shows a possible passage / door / entrance -- that was then sealed with rock - after the structure was finished..

[@jmercado2062]

I just want to say thank you for teaching people etiquette and respect. More and more I am seeing videos where people climb all over the ruins, throw potsherds around, and take things.

[@TheTrekPlanner]

I’ve been seeing that too. It’s hard to respect channels like that

[@jmercado2062]

@@TheTrekPlanner One of them even laughed at me after I commented to be more careful

[@janettetippetts7942]

I'm glad you had somebody with you for most of the trip. What fun! What you need to remember about many of these 'ancient' ruins is that the valley floors weren't as far below them as they are at this time. Nature doesn't pick out just one little piece of land in a vast terrain when it comes to years of weather. It all changes. But these builders knew how to make things last for their lifetimes - and then some, didn't they?

[@RAJohns]

Ah now come on

[@GizzyDillespee]

The river washes erode quickly. The sandstone slowly falls apart. However, all over that landscape you can find pottery and stonework, from the time of the watchtowers, laying on the ground right where it fell. You can even see that in earlier episodes on this channel. This tower doesn't seem to have any datable artifacts, but it looks to be from that era stylistically. It's very unlikely that the valley's ground level was much higher then. It's definitely possible the ridge on which it sits has eroded a bit due to all the people and animals who've walked along it since the construction began. Especially walking around the tower, to reach its other side - you can see how much that narrow shelf, between the tower and the cliff, has eroded.

[@janettetippetts7942]

@@GizzyDillespee I'm sorry. Thank you for the kind and informative correction.

[@janettetippetts7942]

@@RAJohns I'm sorry. Thanks to the other person's informative response, I understand yours.

[@Good-DaySunshine]

@@GizzyDillespee Interesting! Question: As windy as it is there, does loose soil/sand get blown around and pile up higher in the low areas? Not as noticeable as desert sand, but does it happen that way?

[@jimlipscomb3236]

Thanks for doing these trek videos. This structure definitely sparks curiosity!

[@nighthawkflater2917]

Kudos for emphasizing that people shouldn’t in any manner deface or otherwise damage the historical sites

[@corneliusdinkmeyer2190]

OMG!!! Owen is so cute!!! What a nice little guy!!!

[@turtleheninny]

this is one of the best you've found

[@Rocksider2525]

Unbelievably awesome. It's in such great shape. The question is why was it built. Getting food and water would be a chore. Spiritual spot? Just mind boggling. Thx for sharing that

[@felinetherapy4782]

That is amazing and beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@luciamartinez9110]

Very cool very well preserved. Thank you for sharing.

[@Jiuhuashan]

Such a great exploration. Nice to meet Brian and Owen!

[@joewenzel5142]

The Crow's Nest.

[@Undomaranel]

Nah, that's taken in nautical speak. How about The Eyrie?

[@joewenzel5142]

@@Undomaranel That works.

[@gracepeterson7483]

Owen is adorable. Apparently the ancient peoples were not afraid of heights. Can you imagine the stars on a clear night?

[@TheTrekPlanner]

I will have to spend a night out there and bring my camera!!

[@gracepeterson7483]

@@TheTrekPlanner YES!

[@margueritemitchell1829]

Cool 😎 adventure Hello from Beautiful British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦

[@lindabriggs5118]

Amazing ruin! One thing I noticed was the way the rocks are flat and thin. They were almost interlocked instead of the standard brick like rock with wattle and dob on the outside. It was beautiful to look at. Thank you letting us tag along.

[@michaelschuenemann3505]

What a Brilliant Hike - glad the Little One made it - what Fantastic Landscape and Drone View of the Tower - wow and wow again ! Special Place and GREAT Adventure ! Thank You and many Cheers from Australia !!!!

[@patrickbass3542]

For the most part, it appears to be a very weathered natural formation that the ancients took advantage of to create and observation (and maybe defensive) position. The ancient Puebloans were masters at this type of construction!

[@HeirOfNothingInParticular]

Thank you! I came here to say this.

[@DKing-jg7fl]

Just the amount of effort to move that much rock to that elevation is amazing. Plus the ability to construct a structure that has lasted centuries is impressive

[@jburnett8152]

That was incredible. Very impressive. It reminded me of the stories we use to hear about smoke signals. Messages were sent from mountain top to mountain top.

[@TheTrailBlazersAZ]

Wow...that is an amazing place...thanks for sharing!

[@pamelatify]

Incredible videography! Wow I’ve never seen anything like this. Very exciting. No textbook ever showed such interesting and unique ruins in the southwest. Thank you for sharing this- ❤

[@TheTrekPlanner]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊 I want to go back!

[@random22026]

Breath-taking. So happy you preserve the site as it currently is, in a 3D model. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@AnApothecarysCorollary]

10:10 Love the drone shots, thank you, Jeff!

[@chuckzehnder530]

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks again, Jeff.

[@roxorange6022]

Outstanding site! Wonderful that you can do a 3D rendering of these places so there can be a permanent record. Really cool you could have some family along, and foster one little guy's first big adventure - first of many I'm sure!

[@lynneanderson2723]

Oh my Gosh...what an incredible ruin!!!!. Thank you so much.

[@jimkhana007]

What an amazing find and structure Shows the true initiative and tenacity of past people

[@teressarenslow5992]

The top was surprising! Very cool! Thanks for bringing us along! You rock!!

[@buckwheatsofia]

This tower was incredible, what a great video. Nice to have your brother & nephew along with you.

[@sharonstuebi8181]

You never disappoint!. My passion is building unusual structures, and I also can TRULY appreciate the effort passion and logistics involved in the construction. Amazingly preserved considering no morter stacked rock. So wonderful to have your brother and nefew along. Loved owens energy ! Thank you ,thank you thank you. Love from Grandma in Peru 🇵🇪

[@Bossladyone2]

Thank you for taking us on this towering adventure. If the rocks could talk, what a story they would tell. It was really cool that your Brother and Owen were able to join in the fun

[@danasmith8557]

That was a great adventure thanx for sharing ❤

[@nancygibson8854]

Awesome. That was so beautifully made. One of my favorite videos

[@JoyInMyHeart1]

I think towers like this serve many purposes. Watching weather, reading the skies, watching for animal migrations, and of course humans.

[@swineapplebbq6485]

Beautiful landscape and adventure. Love your work on finding those special places.

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

Excellent subject and documentation. Bringing the kid accentuates how long and steep the hike is.

[@kibscott6096]

That is sooo cool, it's amazing it's still intact like that, thank you for sharing this adventure. We'll see you in the next adventure 👍👍👍

[@katesutton1476]

Awesome find. So much work hauling all those rocks to the top. U could see someone coming for miles. Thx 4 sharing. Well done Carry on

[@Stromboli15]

Wow Jeff!! What an amazing find!! That dry stacking looked incredible!! That’s seriously one of the best preserved locations in the wild that I have seen here on your adventures. My breath was absolutely taken away by this one, and I was really pleased to see that you 3d image captured it too! I’m always really curious about the rocks and soils that you encounter. I’m a bit of a rock hound and some of the stuff you encounter is always super interesting. The strata of that “flakey” conglomerate rock made me begin to wonder what kinds of stones there might be contained within it. That big “ball like” stone you were pointing out to Brian looked like a bunch of “thunder eggs” but I don’t know if those are prevalent or even found near that area you were at. I’m curious if you have ever found any “pockets” or “seams” with crystals or agates or any semi precious stones that early indigenous cultures would have used for various tools or adornments or jewelry? Thanks again for another wonderful nature hike!! Can’t wait to view your next one!! 👌🤓🙏😇❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@arthurveenstra1384]

How intriguing. I enjoy it with natural sound, no music, just the wind, footsteps, silence and some narration. It gave me a real feel of that place. Thanks!

[@user-vr4bi9zf4f]

Amazing Structure I Think Definitely a Watch Tower ❤

[@anniehuff9847]

Truly amazing site! Was fun to see Brian and Owen too!

[@lynneanderson2723]

Oh my gosh....what an amazing ruin. Thank you so much for taking us there. 14:04

[@chrisk28]

Such a magnificent adventure! I really appreciate your efforts and sharing. Also great to meet your family members, they seem awesome.

[@arthurlaverman4365]

Very cool video.......again! Thank you for sharing and Keep up the good and entertaining work!

[@markhelmuth6684]

Wow! Epic!!!

[@TrzCharlie]

Another wonderful adventure. Thanks for taking this 74 year old along with you. I appreciate your channel and what you do.

[@malitrabakul701]

If you look the entire ridge, that structure was part of it. The errosion removed the connecting path and much of the structure's surroundings. Great video, BTW. 👍🏻

[@edneely]

That was amazing. And Owen is a trooper.

[@johnganshow5536]

Amazing!!! Thank you...

[@ChristiesThisnThat]

All of your videos are cool but this is the coolest find ever! Thanks for sharing!!

[@peanuts1173]

That was awesome! That's such a long ride. It was so nice to meet your brother and Nephew Owen. I love his reactions. So cute.

[@beverleygreen6125]

absolutely beautiful, thank you for the adventure

[@mikerobbins5049]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing

[@johnmcnulty4425]

Always a great adventure of discovery on this channel!

[@corneliusdinkmeyer2190]

That is a really cool find!!

[@janeteverett1358]

That was awesome.Thank you so much for sharing.

[@mikeb3603]

Superb content! Jeff gets it! Thanks!

[@fungipolo]

Fantastic...ty so much for the videos...i enjoy them all....keep them coming😊

[@richarddewilde9244]

Thanks for sharing brother!

[@vlakslee]

Thanks for another adventure. Better with family always. And the feeling of teaching younger people about new things and ideas.

[@TheTrekPlanner]

It was fun to see him running up and down the trail! He did so great even though we had a long drive

[@jamiebizness1]

Amaz8ng place . Best one yet

[@cattailer1077]

More family adventures...please👍🥰

[@stevemehan7276]

I’m guessing watch tower … what an amazing place!

[@Hosty_Tim]

Thanks for the adventure!

[@stanleybridge]

Thanks Jeff!

[@TheTrekPlanner]

Thanks for watching, Stanley!

[@epoh8698]

Love your vids mate, This is a nice one to watch on a sunday morning here :) Thanks what an amazing site to be documented

[@ktdale1340]

I said wow a thousand times. And I'll say it again W. O. W. Thanks so much for bring us with you.

[@Martycycleman]

Great video made much more special with the family

[@rudeartichoke2567]

Wow so amazing! I loved the drone view!

[@robertcornelius3514]

What is extremely hard on those old ruins are the heavy rains that pass through there every 50 years or so.

[@blanton1624]

Fascinating structure. Taking into account that this was built a very long time ago and the landscape was different then, it still seems as if this would have been difficult to climb and then to haul the rocks up there to build it is amazing to think about. How do you think they could have climbed this? Some type of ladder maybe? Surely, they didn't free climb it. One of your more interesting journeys. Thanks for taking us along.

[@arlenegariepy8957]

Erosion wore away the way up too bad. Every Trek you make just makes my curiosity for the site run wild. LOL :) Your brother is just as curious as you great role models for both your kids keeping the love of history alive.

[@DingbadYoutube]

Like the 3d for preserving the past. Great to see the family together. Thanks for the video.

[@davidpaesch1433]

You care and that is what makes you special for me! Thanks again. David S Paesch

[@TheTrekPlanner]

I really appreciate that, David! Thank you

[@davidpaesch1433]

@@TheTrekPlanner I know you're family is #1 to you and that is the only way to get ahead the right way in our modern times. You keep up with what you're doing and stay true to them and please don't get caught up with the hipe of getting likes and subscriptions to make money. Social media has ruined to many chasing something that they already had. Your the man!! Thanks buddy David S Paesch

[@dyannejohnson6184]

Incredible absolutely incredible

[@vanvorst1999]

Amazing find! 😎👍

[@GayeWinders-gn3km]

What a wonderful adventure this time guys! Loved all the different rock formations and geology of this area. Very interesting how different the deserts are in your area than the Australian ones here. Yes, awesome to contemplate the effort to build these structures and I think too about vessels used for carrying food and water up there. Thank you so much.

[@OoooooooLongJohnson]

Cool!

[@jonathanfloming1045]

Such an intriguing structure... a great amount of effort was invested..it was obviously very necessary ..my guess...a watch tower...but we may never know...thanks again for an awesome adventure...and preserving a video record.

[@zebrobertson]

so cool... 3D imaging of site, and Owen's backpack. lol

[@davidventrella791]

Great exploration. Sometimes more questions then answers.

[@Outrjs]

The earth goes through cataclysmic events that change an area immediately. It appears to have a lake all around. All it takes is for one part of the earth to open up or a walled damn to break, and all the water gushes free. This planet is wild.

[@bumblebee-mygt867]

Great trip. Thanks for taking us along

[@pixelpeter3883]

Wow, what a site! Incredible that it survived in such an exposed location. Did you notice how all the stones are aligned to make the inside wall as smooth as possible, making the outside looking more jagged. They even had a free-fall toilet up there! :-D

[@katheyjberry]

Thank you so much for sharing this incredible trip with us!

[@FlourishingLove]

Considering the crumbling rocks, I am going to bet that the platform that structure was built on looked very different 1000 years ago. Probably a little more accessible back then, too.

[@paulswarthout9967]

What a cool place! Seems like that would be a perfect area to hike in and camp and spend 3 or 4 days exploring. In the background, it looked like there were other spots that deserved a peek.

[@kenjones4564]

That's incredible!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@marylavine2632]

An intriguing adventure, thanks for letting us tag along