Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado is
130 miles southeast from Moab, Utah.
The park entrance is between the towns of Cortez and Mancos.
The Mancos River Valley is at 6,000 ft. elevation. Driving to the top of the Mesa in the National Park you climb to 8,500 ft.
Mesa Verde National Park was created to preserve the archeological heritage
of the ancient Pueblo people cliff dwellings.
Mesa top villages and cliff dwellings were built between 550 to 1300 AD.
Canyon walls where cliff homes were built.
Cliff Palace is the park's most famous cliff dwelling.
It was built in the 13th century and has gone under restoration.
What flew into our photos.... a drone taking pictures!
This fellow showed us how he controlled the drone and
took pictures using his I-pad tablet.
He transferred the photos to his laptop.
Pit houses and pueblos were the first homes built between 700-950 AD. Ceilings
were only 6ft. high with two rooms and fire pits for heating and cooking.
Square Tower House is the tallest structure in the park. The dwelling is
90% original earth and stone construction. It had 60 rooms.
Ancient Pueblo people cut hand and toe holes in the cliff rock to reach their cliff home. Ropes and ladders were used to get water from springs.
A newer version of a permanent home.
Oak Tree house built in 1250 AD.
Spruce Tree House is the third largest cliff dwelling and best preserved.
Located behind the museum and a mile round trip on a path.
Smoke from heating and cooking discolored the rock.
Note the T-shaped doorways for public use & rectangular for domestic use.
Walls extend to rock overhang.
Most Anasazi people left in 1200 AD for unknown reasons and moved to
New Mexico and Arizona.
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