In the wonderful book, Visit With Respect, Tessie Naranjo from Santa Clara Pueblo, says: “Whenever I come to old Pueblo sites it is the beginning of emotions swelling up. About people, my people, my ancestors who used to live here. And connections with them. There is no past; there is no present. There isn’t a divide there. That’s why when we are here, we can greet the people who are here, who have not been here for hundreds and hundreds of years. It’s as if they are here right now and we can talk to them.”
One of the reasons it’s important to protect and preserve archaeological sites is to allow the public to experience that timeless moment that Tessie Naranjo speaks about so eloquently. In that eternal now it is possible, we believe, to transcend the barriers of time and touch the peoples who lived in America long, long ago.
Yes. We are romantics.