Balcony House sits high in the rock
a better view of Square House
looking at Spruce Tree house
Cliff Palace fitts nicely under the ledge, some of the buildings extend to the open
petroglyphs
entry to the pueblos was via a ladder
ruins of a pueblo
Square House
The
area has been inhabited for many thousands of years but from 750 AD people started building
pueblos and other houses under the
canyon cliffs.
A major drought at the end of the 13th century caused the collapse of the civilisation here and the remaining
people moved out.
Some of the dwellings are pretty large, like Cliff Palace, others, like Balcony House, are strategically situated
and can only be accessed by high ladders and through a narrow tunnel.
A hiking trail leads to Petroglyph Point
where you can admire an intriging petroglyph engraved on a rock.
We visited Mesa Verde in Sept. 1993.
a view of the ridge which houses Cliff Palace
Cliff Palace
the ruins of Spruce Tree House
the round kiva of Square House
entry to Balcony house is via a 10 meter ladder