The Mesa Verde Cave Dwellings were built by the Anasazi people between AD 1200-1300 in Colorado. The sandstone and adobe mortar structures blend into the landscape and include kivas, towers, and pit houses. The area was settled by ranchers in the late 18th century, and the Wetherill family helped preserve some of the dwellings. The area was made a national park in 1906, and notable structures include the Cliff Palace, Mug House, and Square House Tower.
The Mesa Verde Cave Dwellings are dwelling structures built in caves and under overhanging portions of cliffs by the Anasazi, an ancient Pueblo people, from AD 1200-1300. The more than 600 cave dwellings are made of sandstone and adobe mortar, making them appear as a seamless part of the landscape. The Mesa Verde cave dwellings are located in the United States, in Montezuma County, Colorado, which is located in the southwest corner of the state.
The Mesa Verde Cave Dwellings get their name from the highest wooded plateau in the Rockies, under which they sit. Mesa Verde is Spanish and translates into English as green table. These ancient houses are all uniquely composed due to the diversity of topography.
The cave dwellings of Mesa Verde are evidence that, during the 13th and 14th centuries, the Anasazi lived in large numbers, in easily defensible structures. The dwellings were not built all at once – evidence shows that rooms were added as needed. Cave dwellings are prime examples of ancient Pueblo architecture because they all include kivas, towers, and pit houses.
The Mesa Verde area was discovered by the Spanish in the 18th century. Although they were the first in the area, the Spaniards did not discover the cave dwellings, which had been abandoned for hundreds of years because they were hidden under the plateau. It was only in the late 18th century that the area was settled by ranchers that the cave dwellings were found.
Unfortunately there were no archaeological standards or procedures when the dwellings were discovered and many of the artifacts and structures were vandalised, stolen or damaged. For this reason it is difficult to draw definitive information on the dwellings and culture of the Anasazi who lived there. The Wetherill family of the area were responsible for the preservation of some of the dwellings. They collected and documented artifacts and sold some to the Colorado historical society. To aid in conservation, the area was made a national park by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.
There are a few structures within Mesa Verde National Park that are notable for their size. The largest is the Cliff Palace which consists of 150 rooms and is thought to have housed up to 300 people. The second largest cliffside mansion in Mesa Verde is Mug House which has 94 rooms and four different levels. There’s also Square House Tower, which has the distinction of being the tallest tower in Mesa Verde.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
