We wonder about when these walls were first made. It could have been a thousand or two thousand years ago. Were they all made in a generation? Or they could have been made gradually, adding plowable territory slowly each year when the ancestors found enough time.
They were made out of the stones at hand, big or small, round tumbled ancient river stones or sharp ones newly broken from the cliffs. Each wall varies. And each year some sections of some walls tumble downward, and one stone falling influences the others. Often the cause is that water will accidentally pour over the wall, carrying the earth and stones downward.
We arrive and dig into the pile of rubble and earth at the base. Pull out stones and place them around. We are working with Chospel. It’s his family’s fields.
Once we’ve pulled the pile of earth away and exposed the base, we can start placing big stones solidly as a foundation. The yura (the waterway) needs to fill and run right by these stones in order to feed the field during the spring and summer.
Each stone we place with care, filling behind them with earth, testing each stone in place to be sure it sits well. And slowly we build upward.
Each wall is almost vertical, which allows the stones above to sit back just a little. Working with the grandparents is how we learned the most about how to place stones so that the wall will stay solid over time, and not slump or fall.
The bars of wood you can see here are only used on taller walls. If part of the wall gives way, they help to keep the section above or below from falling as well.
And here is the same section of wall, completed!
The image below shows the Achepa watering the fields in years past. Note the excess water spilling over in a designated place, over a built chute of stone and sometimes sheet metal.
And this is the main walkway up to a village called Sumdo, also in our region of Sham. This means that people bring heavy supplies over this pathway on the backs of huge dzo.
It’s almost unbelievable how they got those base stones up there on that mountain slope without falling off! Of course the walkway is made of flat, grey stones, since soil would just erode, blow, fall or wash off. This trail reminds me of sections of the Hobbit or Trilogy movie when Frodo’s party were traversing a mountain side! Jason, you are living some of your teenage role playing! Thank so much for sharing these amazing places.
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