Story outline
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Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park
As North America's largest cliff dwelling, Cliff Palace boasts 150 stone rooms. These rooms, made of mortar and stone, offer breathtaking views of the canyon below. Cliff Palace is a testament to 700 years of history and holds deep significance for modern Pueblos and Tribes. As you discover this ancient site, reflect on its importance and the need to protect it. This experience features a variety of perspectives and is designed to enrich our understanding of this place. -
Stop 1. Introducing the Guides
A park archeologist and interns from Hopi, Zuni, and Picuris Pueblos will guide you through the Cliff Palace tour, highlighting its significance for 26 Tribes and Pueblos and its current challenges from climate change. These diverse perspectives enrich our understanding of the site's multifaceted importance. -
Stop 2. Why Live in the Cliffs?
Mesa Verde National Park is renowned for its cliff dwellings, but these remarkable structures represent just one kind of site within the park. Mesa Verde boasts a rich tapestry of human history, including mesa-top villages, ceremonial kivas, petroglyphs, water control features, and other remnants of the Pueblo people's complex civilization. -
Stop 3. Central Role of Water
The American Southwest is experiencing significant climate change effects, including rising temperatures, unpredictable precipitation, reduced snowpacks, and earlier snowmelts. These changes intensify water scarcity and elevate the risk of larger and more frequent wildfires, thereby challenging the region's agriculture and natural ecosystems. Water management features constructed during the Ancestral Pueblo occupation of the Mesa Verde cuesta include check dams, contour or farming terraces, canals, and reservoirs. -
Stop 4. Making a Home in the Cliffs
The Ancestral Pueblo people, showcasing remarkable architectural ingenuity, built their homes in places like Cliff Palace by carving and constructing within the natural alcoves of sandstone cliffs. Using locally sourced materials like sandstone blocks, wooden beams, and clay mortar, they erected multi-storied dwellings that nestled perfectly into the cliffside. -
Stop 5. Kivas
Kivas are subterranean ceremonial chambers that played a central role in the spiritual and communal life of the Ancestral Pueblo people at sites like Cliff Palace. Characterized by their circular shape, kivas were meticulously constructed with stone and earth and often feature a central fire pit and a sipapu, a small hole symbolizing the portal through which humans emerged from the earth. -
Stop 6. A Closer Look at Pueblo Architecture
Creating and stabilizing cliff dwellings, especially in areas like Mesa Verde, required a blend of architectural knowledge and building skills, an understanding of local materials, and a deep respect for the natural environment. -
Stop 7. Dating Cliff Palace
Dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating, is employed at Mesa Verde to date ancient structures. By analyzing the growth rings in wood samples from the site and comparing them to a chronology from the region, archaeologists can determine the precise years the wood was harvested. This method provides invaluable insights into the timing of construction and occupation of the cliff dwellings. -
Stop 8. Pueblo Farming and Food Storage
Granaries at Mesa Verde were crucial for the Ancestral Pueblo people, allowing them to store surplus food from bountiful harvests. Built into alcoves and cliffs, these structures protected the stored food from the elements and pests. Reliable food storage supported longer-term settlement and fostered community stability. -
Stop 9. Thriving, Not Just Surviving
The artwork at Mesa Verde, including intricate petroglyphs and painted murals and painted pottery, reflects the profound ingenuity and artistry of the Ancestral Pueblo people. These creations offer insights into their spiritual beliefs, daily life, and social structures. The enduring nature of this art underscores the deep connection to the world around them. -
Stop 10. Preserving the site for Future Generations
Remember, Cliff Palace is just one of hundreds of sites carefully preserved within Mesa Verde National Park, each telling its own story of a remarkable civilization. Don't miss the chance to witness this testament to human ingenuity and resilience firsthand.
Voices
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Chris McAllister
Park Service Archeologist
Mesa Verde National Park
Chris has been an archeologist at Mesa Verde National Park since 1999, where she has directed numerous archeological surveys and documentation projects, including condition assessment of Cliff Palace. She has 30 years of field experience in the private and public sectors. During her time at Mesa Verde, Chris has conducted site survey, condition assessment, architectural documentation, post-fire assessment and treatments, site testing, and monitoring. Her early days at Mesa Verde were spent mainly in the backcountry and involved hiking and rappelling into numerous alcove sites to assess them for post-fire damage and update their documentation. She has co-authored a number of professional reports and presentations on the archeology of Mesa Verde. Chris holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Marquette University. -
Satchel Martin
Park Service Intern from Hopi Tribe
Hopi
Satchel Martin is a proud member of the Hopi Tribe—the westernmost pueblo connected to Mesa Verde. Satchel dedicated his 2023 season interning at Mesa Verde and offered invaluable insights into his perspective as a member of Hopi, enhancing the understanding and experience for visitors. -
Jordan Fragua
Park Service Intern from Picuris and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos
Picuris & Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos
Jordan Fragua hails from both Picuris and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos in northern New Mexico, representing a unique confluence of two distinct Pueblo communities from the Rio Grande area. During his tenure at Mesa Verde in 2023, Jordan enriched the visitor experience by shedding light on his dual heritage, deepening the understanding of the ancestral connections and shared histories of the region. -
Ian Bowekaty
Park Service Intern from Zuni pueblo
Zuni Pueblo
Ian Bowekaty, a passionate representative from Zuni Pueblo, devoted his time at Mesa Verde to highlighting his people's history and language. His dedication provided visitors with a unique and immersive understanding, bridging the gap between the ancient and contemporary narratives of the Zuni community.
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About the Project
As North America's largest cliff dwelling, Cliff Palace boasts 150 stone rooms. These rooms, made of mortar and stone, offer breathtaking views of the canyon below. Cliff Palace is a testament to 700 years of history and holds deep significance for modern Pueblos and Tribes. As you discover this ancient site, reflect on its importance and the need to protect it. This experience features a variety of perspectives and is designed to enrich our understanding of this place.
Related Links
Credits
This Tapestry tour of Cliff Palace was made possible through the generous support of Iron Mountain.
Related experience
El Kurru & The Tomb of Tanwetamani (Opens in new tab) — A 2,500 year old tomb protected by the local community