Cliff Palace was inhabited between 1190's to 1270's A.D. and had more than 150 rooms. This cultural group was primarily agricultural, growing their crops up on the mesa above.
The kivas are considered ceremonial rooms - perhaps used for healing rites, to pray for rain, luck in hunting or for a good crop. They were also gathering places and sometimes a place to weave. The inhabitants were expert basket weavers, but their craft fell into decline around the time they lived here.
The fire pit is shown in the center of this kiva, with a fresh air vent (rectangular) built into the wall. The air deflector (thin vertical stone helped control the flame and the smoke).
These are wonderful pictures! I've never been in any of the cliff dwellings, but have seen some in the distance here in AZ... they are incredible! Thanks for sharing your photos.
ReplyDeleteI have never been here. In the pictures all this looks like something that would be set up in a model train display. I think it is hard to realize just how big this "city" was. Such nice pictures!!
ReplyDelete