Cliff Palace in 2018. Photo By Judson McCranie – Wikimedia

Top 10 Remarquable Facts About Cliff Palace


 

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America measuring 80 feet high, 80 feet deep, and 200 feet long. Native people in the Southwest side of the united states, specifically Montezuma County – Colorado, began constructing these highly defensible cliff dwellings in 1190 CE. They continued expanding and refurbishing them until 1260 CE before abandoning them around 1300 CE.

The cliff-dwelling structures are some of the most revered and best-preserved in the world. Built by the Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi people, this palace is in Mesa Verde National Park which is believed to be their former homeland region.

Cliff Palace is unique in its size and is considered a village in and of itself. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site. Here are facts about the palace.

1. It Was One Of The Largest Cliff Dwellings

The palace has 150 rooms that are roughly 6 by 8 feet for a population of about 100 people. Scholars believe that this complex may have been the center of the community because of the 23 circular rooms in the foreground called kivas.

These kivas had ceremonial and religious importance as they hosted rituals for the inhabitants. Smaller rooms were used to store crops and other rooms believed to be living spaces were adorned in bright, cheery colors, including pinks, reds, and yellows.

This national heritage was established during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency in 1906 and occupies some 52,485 acres of land. This makes it the largest archaeological preserve in the United States.

2. The Dwellings Were Built Using Readily Available Materials

Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park, CO, USA Photo By MARELBU – Wikimedia Commons

The Cliff Palace was constructed from the local materials of sandstone, with wooden beams, held together with mortar made of ash, water, and soil. The sandstone was shaped using harder stones, and a mortar of soil, water, and ash was used to hold everything together.

Small bits of stone were mixed into the mortar and used to fill in gaps thus reinforcing its strength and providing stability. Decoration and art are not just modern because many of the walls in the palace were decorated.

The walls were plastered in bright red, brown, yellow, pink, or white with colored earthen plasters, which were the first to erode over time.

3. The Design Was Well Thought For Their Protection

Inside Cliff Palace. Photo By Boyd Norton – Wikimedia Commons

The Anasazi people built multi-story houses in the alcoves of canyon walls that are believed to have been defensive.

The doorways are not that big at the Palace. It is believed that at the time, the average man was under 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m), while the average woman was closer to 5 feet (1.5 m).

There is a large square tower that almost reaches the cave “roof”. It is the tallest structure there standing at 26 feet (7.9 m) tall, with four levels.  

At the center of the ruin, there’s a kiva that is positioned where the entire structure is partitioned by a series of walls with no doorways or other access portals. The walls of this kiva were plastered with one color on one side and a different color on the opposing side.

They designed the palace in such a way that it was only accessible by use of ropes and climbing the rocks. The ground floor had no doors or windows. In addition to designing the dwellings for protection against invading groups, the homes were built up high to also repel both native wildlife and inclement weather.

4. The Palace Was Abandoned

With such a stunning space to call home, you may be curious as to why the Anasazi would ever leave the palace. Well, it was abandoned and remained forgotten until local farmers stumbled upon the sandstone, mortar, and wooden dwelling in 1888.

The natives left due to a series of megadroughts interrupting food production systems. These changes in climatic conditions resulted in increased competition for resources, leading to some groups allying with their neighbors for both food and protection.

5. The Dwellings Were Protected Against Forest Fires

Mesa Verde National Park. Forest fires cannot go under the cliff.
Photo By Gerd Eichmann – Wikimedia Commons

The Cliff Palace was protected from the many forest fires since it was built beneath an overhanging cliff. Fire does not go beyond the edge of the cliff.

6. The Palace was Discovered Accidentally

On December 18th, 1888, two cowboys, Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law Charlie Mason, were riding across the Mesa Verdy top looking for stray cattle. At the edge of the pinyon and juniper forest near today’s overlook at Sun Temple, they came upon a vast canyon.

Through the blowing snow, they could distinguish something on the cliffs which looked like “a magnificent city.” These ranchers from the Mancos Valley may have been the first white men to see what they called “Cliff Palace.” After further exploration, they entered the dwelling and made a small collection of artifacts.

7. They Had Small Dams For Their Water Supply

Square Tower House and Kivas. Photo By HJPD – Wikimedia Commons

Seeing that there are no streams or rivers near the palace, one wonders where the natives got water from. The main reliable water source was the Mancos River which was located several miles away from Cliff Palace.

Their regular sources of water in the area were seeping springs. To help them through times of drought, these people began building small dams and reservoirs where they caught and stored rainwater and melted snow that they could use later.

8. Cliff Palace Residents Were Farmers

The Ancient Pueblo people were very good farmers despite the harsh and arid climate. They cultivated mainly corn, beans, and squash. They knew how to dry their food and could store it for years. Women ground the dried corn into flour, which they made into paper-thin cakes.

9. Hunting and Gathering Was Also Part Of Their Life Style

The Pueblos were mostly vegetarians, but they would eat meat when it was available. They hunted for small games such as rabbits, gophers, and squirrels. They also hunted large game such as deer, antelope, prairie dogs, and mountain lions.

They also gathered wild plants for sustenance. The nuts of the piñon pine were eaten roasted or ground. They ate the ripe fruit of the banana yucca and dried the red fruit from the prickly pear cactus for later consumption.

10. Cliff Dwellers Had Basketry, Pottery, and Other Skills


Historical Relics and Artwork Pottery of the Anasazi people. Photo By Yinan Chen – Wikimedia Commons

Some of the Anasazi people had skills like weaving, leatherworking, or making pottery, arrow points, jewelry, baskets, sandals, or other specialized articles.

They were very accomplished potters, making vessels of many kinds: pots, bowls, canteens, ladles, jars, and mugs. Corrugated ware was used mostly for cooking and storage. 

 

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