In the southwestern corner of Colorado can be found one of the most unique archaeological sites in the country, the cliff dwellings of the ancestral Pueblo people, once known as the Anasazi. These ancient people farmed the tops of the Mesa Verde lands--the name means green table--and lived in alcoves in the cliffs beneath their farmlands.
Plan to visit the cliff dwellings spring through fall when ranger-guided tours of the most impressive sites take place. The park is open year-round, but tours of Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House must be under the guidance of a ranger.
There are over 4,000 archaeological sites and 600 cliff dwellings inside the park. While the area was home to the ancient Pueblo from 550 A.D. to 1300 A.D., they only occupied the cliff dwellings from 1190 on and then moved south to Arizona and New Mexico.
Enjoy the panoramic view from Park Point, at 8,427 feet above sea level. The unobstructed 360-degree view of the surrounding country is said to be one of the most beautiful sights in North America.
Mesa Verde was the first national park to set aside land to "preserve the works of man," according to the National Park Service. The 52,000-acre park is part of the Colorado Plateau, a semi-arid region between the deserts to the south and the forests to the north.
Tour Cliff Palace with its 150 rooms and 23 kivas, ceremonial chambers, and you will have an idea of how 100 people lived here at this important, likely ceremonial center. Yet most of the cliff dwellings, about 75 percent, consisted of just one to five rooms, many of them used for storage of crops.
Don't think of the cliff dwellings as remote and cut off from the world. Archaeologists have found jewelry made with shells from the Pacific coast and turquoise from central America. The pottery produced here continues to inspire Southwestern potters of today.
