The House of Mud

The local Indians have figured out a new way to leverage their heritage by establishing a casino in an apparent attempt to consecrate one of their ancient sites. Despite the renewed attempt to scalp White-Eyes, this time at the black-jack tables, the area is very interesting. Scrape away the third rate Elvis impersonator and you will find “Montezuma’s Castle”. Though there may well have been trade between the Central American Indians and local tribes it is doubtful Montezuma gave this are a second thought, much less built a castle here. Rather, it was a pueblo established by local tribes for protection. The area is beautiful with a creek near by. Considering the desert lies not more than a few miles down I-17, this was like paradise back then. The original inhabitants moved on for whatever reason long ago, leaving this monument to their civilization.

It is too bad that many of the interesting archeological sites have seen encroachment from developers – such as housing abutting White Tanks and the Deer valley Rock Art Center, and that the state and tribes are callous enough to allow this to go on. I guess it just goes to prove money talks and if we have to pave over the past to make lots of it, so be it.