The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde

The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde — page 1
More than fourteen centuries ago in about A.D. 550 ancient Americans came to live in southwestern Colorado in the place known today as Mesa Verde For hundreds of years these people lived and farmed on the flat mesa top Then around 1190 many of them moved into alcoves in the cliffs of narrow canyons below Nimbly climbing steep rock walls they carried stones water and mud for building Later when the structures were complete the inhabitants brought crops harvested from nearby fields freshly killed wild game and other things they needed to live Members of the village produced pottery baskets and finely crafted stone and bone tools Traders from far away came with shells cloth and news from the outside world It was a thriving productive community Visitors today climb ladders similar to those used by the Anasazi