We left Cortez, Colorado taking the short drive to Mesa Verde National Park, the largest archaeological preserve in the United States. Located in this park are some of the largest cliff dwellings in the world built by the ancestral Puebloan culture. This site shows evidence from A. D. 550 to 1300. It was truly amazing to see these dwellings and the ingenuity of this culture.
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| alcove ~ top middle |
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| dwelling there in the alcove |
At numerous viewpoints we could see the remains of the dwellings in the alcoves of the mesas hundreds of feet up the cliffs. How they accessed these locations was another wonder.
First we took a self guided tour of Spruce Tree House, the third largest cliff dwelling within the park.
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| Spruce Tree House |
Evidance shows Spruce Tree House was constructed around 1200 by the Puebleon people. It contains about 114 rooms and eight kivas (a gathering place or ceremonial place). It is estimated to have been the home of about 100 people.
Ninety percent of these dwellings are original. Only some reinforcement behind the walls was necessary.
Ninety percent of these dwellings are original. Only some reinforcement behind the walls was necessary.
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| Kiva |
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| ladder into kiva |
The kiva would have had a top on it with a hole in the top for entering, exiting and smoke ventilation.
We were able to enter the kiva using this ladder.
Then the Mesa Top Loop was a driving tour showing 600 years of ancestral Puebloan development from the early pit houses to the later multilevel dwellings like the Cliff Palace.
The early Pithouse would have had a top on it similar to that on the right. They were often fire hazards.
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| early kiva |
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| alcove |
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| dwelling there |
Square Tower House ~ you can see its placement in the cliff wall.
Next we took and a ranger guided tour of Cliff Palace, the largest multi story dwelling in this area where we were able to walk among the ruins.
Narrow trail to Cliff Palace
Kiva showing fire pit and ventilation system.
Air would come in through an opening in the
top wall, down through a shaft and come out
the rectangular opening you see at the bottom center.
The air would deflect around that flat stone and circulate around the kiva.
The 'sipapu' or 'spirit hole'. The Puebloans believed this hole represented the opening through which man emerged onto the face of the earth and was important in many ceremonies. It was the symbolic entrance to the underworld.
There has been research as to the significance of the different shaped doors. The T shaped door on the left possibly for more public areas or giving more space at the top for shoulder width and carrying things.
The rectangular shape on the right for more private areas.
As explained, there are still 20 different tribes that are direct descendants of the ancient Puebloans. Many scientists view the ruins as deserted by these people but the tribes see them as scared areas of their ancestors where they can still communicate with them. The tribes explain that the Puebloans never deserted this area, they simply knew it was time to move on.
Our narrow exit from Cliff Palace ~
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| Cliff Palace |
Narrow trail to Cliff Palace
Kiva showing fire pit and ventilation system.
Air would come in through an opening in the
top wall, down through a shaft and come out
the rectangular opening you see at the bottom center.
The air would deflect around that flat stone and circulate around the kiva.
The 'sipapu' or 'spirit hole'. The Puebloans believed this hole represented the opening through which man emerged onto the face of the earth and was important in many ceremonies. It was the symbolic entrance to the underworld.
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| Wall art ~ we had to reach way inside a window to get this picture |
There has been research as to the significance of the different shaped doors. The T shaped door on the left possibly for more public areas or giving more space at the top for shoulder width and carrying things.
The rectangular shape on the right for more private areas.
As explained, there are still 20 different tribes that are direct descendants of the ancient Puebloans. Many scientists view the ruins as deserted by these people but the tribes see them as scared areas of their ancestors where they can still communicate with them. The tribes explain that the Puebloans never deserted this area, they simply knew it was time to move on.
Our narrow exit from Cliff Palace ~
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| up the stone steps |
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| through the passage |
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| up three of these ladders |
Understanding our time here was complete we moved on to Durango for the night. This was a great town with a modern western feel. After asking for suggestions at our hotel, we headed to Steamworks Brewing Co for a bite to eat. What a great place. We were intrigued with their specialty, Cajun Boil which consisted of crab, shrimp, sausage, red potatoes and corn on the cob boiled and then dumped onto waxed brown paper on the table. (no plates). We didn’t actually try it, it was a bit too much but the young group of high school students all dressed up on their way to their homecoming dance ordered it. When it arrived, the girls took their wrist corsages off and the boys flung their ties over their shoulders and dug in.
Of course John had to have a beer sampler
along with his grass fed beef burger.
From there we moved on to the Wild Horse Saloon where the guys were decked out in their Wranglers and Cowboy hats and the girls donned their tight jeans and boots.
We had a blast listening to the western music as we watched them all two step around the dance floor.
We asked for local color and we got it.
was there any evidence of the fires at Mesa? there were some pretty bad ones a couple years ago and the whole place was threatened...
ReplyDeleteWe definitely saw the evidence of the fires. All along the drive on both sides the trees were gone, charred but there was a lot of regrowth
ReplyDelete