Images courtesy of the US Geological Survey. Modified images copyright 2001 by Jack Andrews and may not be used without my wriiten permission The images below show the "canals" first discovered by a Steve Wingate. When we first saw the "lines" there was speculation and talk among us of what they may actually be. One team member alluded to the Nazca lines and said these lines look similar. When I first saw the lines, I wasn't sure what they were. Steve's suggestion that they looked like "canals" was worth pursuing. I then realized that Steve's observation may have been correct because they reminded me of ancient Hohokam canals in southern Arizona, where I live, which were constructed to channel river flows and on occasion also built to channel seasonal desert runoff. I know from my experience that the Hohokam did not reach the area of northern Arizona on the rim of Marble Canyon, where these lines "canals" exist. But I pursued the idea that these lines we were seeing were actually ancient canals. I decided to move along the washes feeding into the canals in what would be an uphill direction (in the image viewer). I suspected these washes might lead into what could be ancient check dams, and sure enough, they did (or at least to dams). You can see this below in the USGS images I labelled. In the lower image I upped the contrast to help the viewer see the canals which are faint. There is a lower series of canals which show a more straight "gridwork" pattern. (see below bottom image) These also are fed by what look like ancient ckeck dams. The existance of what appears to be a vast system of canals (several miles long) brings up an important and mysterious question. What is such a vast canal system doing in an area that shows no apparent dwellings other than the occasional under rim anasazi few room structure? Who was the vast canal system (and what must have been associated fields), supporting? There are no apparent rim structures that would indicate the existance of a large populated area. Is it mere coincidence that just below these canals is the suspected cave area of 1909 which, according to the 1909 story could have supported many many people? The article says: "Upwards of 50,000 people could have lived in the caverns comfortably". Were these canals seen by the Smithsonian party who allegedly investigated this installation in 1909? Remember the article also says: "Some believe these cave dwellers built the old canals in the Salt River Valley." Was knowlege of the apparent canal system I show below the origin of that speculation back in 1909? Also, does this indicate that the "cave" dwellers may have had access to the rim? The 1909 article says: "The perfect ventilation of the cavern, the steady draught that blows through, indicates that it has another outlet to the surface". - Jack Andrews copyright 2001 may be only used in it's entirety with this notice clearly visible. Upper Canal check dams (closeup) Upper "canals" with check dams (distant view) Lower "canals" (contrast enhanced for clarity)