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The House on Fire
House on Fire is a remarkable geological feature and Ancestral Pueblo granary in Bears Ears National Monument, Utah. Towering sandstone cliffs and iron oxide stains evoke dancing flames on the rock. Shirley Cloud-Lane shows how natural beauty and ancient ingenuity intertwine. Experience a journey that connects past and present. -
Stop 1. Architecture and Craftsmanship
High on the cliff, Ancestral Pueblo people built an alcove storage space for food and essentials using local rock and handmade mortar. The walls feature five distinct design styles that showcase their resourcefulness. Imagine hauling stones, water, and clay with primitive tools—a testament to ancient craftsmanship. -
Stop 2. Food Storage and Survival
Deep within the cliff alcove, granaries sheltered surplus crops like corn and beans, ensuring survival in an arid landscape. These lifelines demonstrate careful planning and community cooperation. Structures built away from harsh elements underscore how foresight and unity were key to thriving under extreme conditions. -
Stop 3. Community and Shared Efforts
This site is part of a broader network connecting villages through family, marriage, and tradition. The people who used these granaries shared struggles and successes, passing down vital knowledge over generations. Their collective efforts and enduring bonds remind us that cooperation was essential for survival in harsh environments. -
Stop 4. Enduring Spirit
As you leave, reflect on the ingenuity, resilience, and community spirit etched in these ancient cliffs and granaries. Their legacy endures in the deep connection between people and the land. Visitors are urged to tread lightly, preserving this cultural treasure so future generations may also share in its wonder.
Voices
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Shirley Cloud-Lane
BLM Native American Coordinator
Shirley Cloud-Lane is a Native American Coordinator with the Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office in Utah. Shirley has decades of experience working in the protection and interpretation of Native American cultural heritage including work at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian for nine years.
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About the Project
Designated a National Monument in 2016, Bears Ears National Monument is home to rich cultural heritage and is sacred to many Native American tribes who continue to utilize the landscape. Located in southeast Utah, visitors to Bears Ears can see the two buttes from which the monument gets its name along with historic ancestral sites among the canyons and pinyon and juniper forests. Two of these ancestral sites, the Mule Canyon Village and House on Fire provide a unique opportunity to learn about Ancestral Pueblo people who have lived at Bears Ears in the past and the connections that their descendants continue to have with this place today.
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