Tuesday, September 24 – Our journey today takes us to Mesa Verde National Park. This archaeological preserve is the nation's largest and features 5000 known archaeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings. It gives an awesome look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300.
We began at the new visitor's center (opened in May 2013). The center is located at the Park entrance. The America the Beautiful pass was used to get us free entry. The Park movie and museum is at the Chaplin Mesa Archeological Museum 20 miles into the park. Don't miss it! The movie is very good.
Due to the big fire that went through this park, there is only one self-guided tour,Spruce Tree. All other visits to the cliff dwellings must be done by a Ranger-led tour.
The first thing we learned is this park is isolated…guess that's why the ruins survived this long. We drove 20 miles into the park before we came to the first Indian ruin. The park is located atop a mesa so the road serpentines uphill most of the way.
The first thing we noticed when we walked to our first cliff dwelling is we were huffin' & puffin'. The explanation is we are at 7000' altitude. We aren't use to hiking uphill at that altitude.
The path to Spruce Tree (a self-guided tour) is paved but by no means a leisurely walk. Don't be fooled by walking down to the dwelling, remember what goes down will eventually have to come up. Spruce Tree, the the third largest cliff dwelling, was constructed between A.D. 1211 and 1278 by the ancestors of the Puebloan peoples.
Spruce Tree
The Ranger at the site was wonderful. She answered everyone's questions and gave us some insight into the living conditions of the Puebloan people.
Paul going down into the kiva.
Pit House was built in AD 600.
Fire Temple
The Park has gone to great length to preserve the historical pit houses and pueblos. They have built shelters over each of them.
Cliff Palace contained 150 rooms and 23 kivas and had a population of approximately 100 people. An average man was about 5'4" to 5'5" tall, while an average woman was 5' to 5'1". Most people lived an average of 32-34 years, however some people did live into their 50s and 60s. Approximately 50% of the children died before they reached the age of five.
The ruins are amazing. We repeatedly asked ourselves how these people prospered and built these amazing homes on the side of a cliff. They were quite the builders, that's for sure!
How they built these structures in this surroundings is amazing.
We can only wonder what those ranchers thought back in 1927 when they stumbled upon these ruins searching for lost cattle. We bet they couldn't believe their eyes! It's also a wonder how the ruins survived for over a 1000+ years and remained in such good condition. Ah, what wonders!
We give Mesa Verde two thumbs up!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!
We really enjoyed our one day at Mesa Verde National Park. We went on the Cliff Palace hike/tour and did as many drive-bys as we could of some of the other areas. I liked your pictures!
ReplyDeleteMesa Verde has always been a very special place for us. Thanks for the tour and the lovely photos. You two are covering a lot of ground. :)
ReplyDeleteWe have been going to stop there for a long time and never have. Another place on the list
ReplyDeleteWe spent just the one day at Mesa Verde. It's a very unique park. We loved it.
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful discovery and awesome pictures, thanks again for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAw...what wonders indeed. It's definitely on our list. Your pictures were wonderful, as usual.
ReplyDeleteWow, amazing. And our list gets longer and longer. Doug does suffer with altitude sickness so maybe not.
ReplyDeleteAnother stop to put on my Pinterest/Colorado board. Thanks for the info and photos
ReplyDeleteAnother spot we missed while in the area. Thanks for the tour and great pics.
ReplyDeleteThose cliffside dwellings are simply amazing and make one wonder how they ever built them with such rudimentary tools.
Back in 2008, I spent three nights in the Mesa Verde NP campground. Ever since then, about twice a year I get an email from them suggesting I come back and visit.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly an interesting place, and you got some great pictures!
These are the cliff dwellings I have always wanted to visit. You did a great job explaining the history and giving us a real taste of what it is like to tour this phenomenal place. I give it a two thumbs also!
ReplyDeleteYour post was very educational. Thanks for the great pics. You 2 are very adventurous!
ReplyDeleteWe spent a great day at Mesa Verde. Would like to go back and stay in the campground there to be closer since it is such a huge park.
ReplyDeleteAnother place we need to visit.
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