Mesa Verde National Park

After we left the Wave, we drove through Monument Valley and 4 Corners on our way to Mesa Verde National Park.  Mesa Verde was the first cultural national park created, which protects a large number of Puebloan settlements between 700 and 1300 AD.  While most people think of the one biggest cliff dwelling (Cliff Palace), people lived in over 600 cliff settlements within the national park alone, and the majority of puebloans lived on top of the mesa, where they farmed.  Ruins are present above and below the cliffs.  It was quite the learning experience and the park has ruins showing how construction methods changed and improved over the generations spent at Mesa Verde.  It's also a high mesa, requiring a climb up to 8,000 feet to get to the park.  Enjoy the photos!

Cliff Palace from Above

Within Cliff Palace

The multi-story facilities in Cliff Palace

Balcony House - looking across a Kiva, a round pit (always with a roof, the basic unit of construction) found in all the dwellings.  The roofs, made of wood, have all since decomposed.

Looking into a kiva, showing the ventilation shaft, deflection stone (to direct air around the kiva), fire pit, and roof supports.  The roof only had one hole above the fire for entry and exit.

Treece exiting Balcony House - the Puebloans were only 5'-3" tall max and had small entryways.

Looking down at Square Tower, a 4-story structure

An older Kiva example on top of the mesa.

Looking at a variety of dwellings; the one on the left with large fire pit was likely used as a dance floor for ceremonies.

Same dwellings; showing the cliff tops (note the forests are all burned).

Cliff Palace from across the canyon.

If you can't beat it, add it to the nature tour.

Inside a reconstructed kiva.

Spruce Tree House.

These are dams (10'-15' deep) built above the natural spring to capture rainwater and force it down to recharge the spring.

More kivas.

An ASCE landmark, this once was a 12' deep reservoir which captured 25 acres of runoff for irrigation and domestic use.  It's huge.

Coyote Village ruins on top of the mesa.