“Down in the Valley”

Typically, scholars have expected to find evidence of settlements lower down in the valley, "so these finds are remarkable", said Peter Frankopan, a global history professor at Oxford University.

“It’s a beautiful mix of pine and oak forest. Wonderful riparian areas too, though there isn’t a lot of surface water. It’s big so it’s a good bet. I was just up a couple weeks ago. The ceanothus blooms were stunning. The monkey flower, deerweed, penstemon and lupines were out in force too. Wildflower blooms last longer and start later the higher you go up in elevation. So quiet at certain times of the day. It’s an entirely different world than down in the valley.”

Around 10 p.m., my NightSky app revealed that the moon had risen, far down in the valley.

The goal of community leaders, Mr. Wright said on Thursday, was “to create a pipeline so Columbia University can be accessible to folks down in the valley.”

If you find yourself down in the valley soon, Crockett’s Public House and Farm 12 offer great bites to try.