Chris Montes

I'm Chris Montes, the person behind Earthly Enigmas. I've always liked taking things apart to see how they work, then figuring out how to put them back together. That habit started with cars and motorcycles and followed me into building maintenance, cell tower work, and marine equipment.

Years spent fixing things changed the way I look at ancient places. I notice the weight of a stone, the fit of a joint, or an alignment, and want to understand how someone made it happen. Earthly Enigmas grew from those questions. It's a place to explore the ancient world, look closely at the evidence, and think through explanations without mistaking a possibility for a fact.

My path here has taken a few turns. On North Carolina's Outer Banks I volunteered with the local fire department and worked as a first mate on a parasail boat. Back in Colorado I started Anywhere Live and spent nearly three years filming musicians around Denver.

Music has been part of my life much longer than that. I learned to read music in kindergarten on the recorder. I picked up the alto sax in third grade and the snare drum in fourth. By middle school I was learning guitar, and I never stopped playing. Music gave me an ear for patterns, ratio, and alignment, and for the way things line up. That quietly shaped how I see everything.

Since September 2024 I've been my father's full-time caregiver. It's the most important work I've done, and it's taught me how much patience and careful attention matter.

When I need to get my head right I get out on my motorcycle for some wind therapy. I call it my mental rejuvenation on wheels. I've taken that bike apart and put it back together so many times that I know her inside and out. Riding with some great tunes in my ears ties all of it together for me.

I'm learning as I go, and I want to share that process honestly. If an ancient place or object has ever made you stop and wonder how it came to be, I hope you'll find something here worth exploring.