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Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde is best known for cliff dwellings, which are structures built within caves and under outcroppings in cliffs. They were occupied by the Anasazi indians from about 700 to 1300. There was a 24 year drought (beginning in 1274) and the native population moved away, leaving villages and cliff dwellings.
The Anasazi were well known for their pottery and basket weaving. They left a rich history of an age now almost forgotten. We were privileged to visit this site, which was set aside as a National Park by President Roosevelt in 1904.
A corn grinding room
Looking inside one of the kivas
Some decorations at the entry to a Kiva
They built all the way up to the “roof”
Must take a lot of work
Looking inside a cliff dwelling kiva
There are rooms below the floor, climb the ladder to get down
A lot of work went into these, everything had to be carried in
Tonto National Monument
We were very fortunate to be able to join a guided hike to the upper dwellings at Tonto National Monument. Only 900 people get to go up here a year as the site is historically sensitive. We were even more fortunate to have Eddie give the tour; he has been a Ranger at this park for 31 years. Plus,he is an archeologist and an anthropologist. Fabulous source of information, really made the dwelling come alive, historically speaking.
Local populations have lived here for thousands of years, then around 1400 AD they just disappeared. There is lots of speculation why, but no one knows, as the Indians had no written language. Fortunately, the remnants of their civilization gives a good idea how they lived. There are literally thousands of remnants to help us piece together a good image. Fascinating!
Also, I have many more pictures on our Flickr album, a link is provided on the front page.
Part of the way up is through a rich valley
Now we're getting a good view of the dwellings
Looking back into Tonto Basin
Now we're getting closer
Inside one of the rooms
A view from the back of the dwelling
Looking from one room into others
The beams are old, the grafitti isn't
Roosevelt bridge, especially for my riding buddies
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