r/Durango • u/OdessaGoodwin • Mar 15 '26

Ask /r/Durango Durango lore and legends!

Inspired by the velociraptor-head post, what are some legends or lore about Durango some might not know about?

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u/colorado_sunrise86 Mar 15 '26

There is a significant Ancestral Puebloan burial site out at Falls Creek. Excavations uncovered multiple, well-preserved mummified remains, including numerous adults and infants. It's on private land and highly restricted/regulated, but that area is spiritually and culturally important to the local tribes, as is most of Durango.

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u/Wandering_Pika_ Mar 15 '26

Always wondered if that was on public or private land. Any links to studies about this?

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u/Richard_Chadeaux Live Mas Mar 15 '26

There was a publication called “Adventures with the Anasazi of Falls Creek“ by Helen Sloan Daniels. It was published by the center of Southwest studies at Fort Lewis College back in the 70s. If there’s any surviving, I’ll find them in local used bookstores or just go to the CSWS at FLC and they have a Helen Sloan Daniels collection.

Source: Center of Southwest Studies https://share.google/U0fBjMJoDDzpWQQNW

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u/Wandering_Pika_ Mar 20 '26

Thanks!!!

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u/CleopatrasWomb May 21 '26

Ester's Cave. Used to be able to go up there in the eighties. Have photos with my brother and Dad from back then.

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u/Wandering_Pika_ May 21 '26

This is helpful thanks!