by Thomas Best
Some national parks are largely known by a single iconic photograph. For instance, for Yellowstone (think Old Faithful), Grand Canyon (consider Mather Point lookout), and Arches (view Delicate Arch). I found the same to be true for Mesa Verde National Park, a spectacular vista in southwestern Colorado.
The image I am referring to is the view looking down upon the main ancient Native American cliff dwellings known as “Cliff Palace.” Not in their view until tourists have traveled about 20 miles through the southern section of the park, these cliff structures are often called the “enchanted castle,” as well as the “crown jewel” of Mesa Verde. This unique site was first spotted by more recent Americans in 1888, when some cowboys were herding cattle through this is region of plateaus, mesas, and colorful canyons. This particular cliff dwelling is the largest such structure created by the ancestral Puebloan people. It is estimated that this sandstone site was a communal dwelling starting around 1200 CE. However, other evidence exists that early native people occupied this site as much as 600 years earlier. Park of the mystery of this visually-stunning structure—highlighted by kivas and other semi-subterranean structures—is what we are capable of learning about these creative people. Stone tools, clay pottery, finely woven yucca plant sandals, pouches made of prairie dog hides, and varieties of seed for corn, squash, and pumpkins offer some clues as to advancement and complexity of their culture. The pinkish-colored structure, considered one of the best examples of early stone masonry and mortar, amazes tourists as they speculate about how early residents moved to and from this overhanging village. Estimating that likely about 100 to 120 people could have lived in this alcove about 215 feet wide with about 150 rooms, visitors can hike down into the structure to observe storage rooms for storing harvests and areas where craft work such as weaving took place. The other awe-inspiring structures are the tall round and square towers supported in part by wooden timbers.
Of course, these ancient cliff dwellings are not the only ones found in this park. Close to 5000 Puebloan sites have been located atop this high mesa; however, only 600 of such sites are classified as cliff dwellings. How and why such people lived a vibrant community life in precarious cliff-side villages is still being researched. If you can make it to Mesa Verde in extreme southwestern Colorado, you can look and read about this mystery yourself.
Thank you for your interest.
