Mapping History at Mesa Verde
How the mesa’s land, water, and weather connect to where and how people lived. The original page also has a 360-degree image, illustrations, and classroom questions. This reading leaves out the questions.
This page is a simplified version of the original text (leveled toward 800L). Photos, maps, and other images are not on this page — use the original link above to see them.
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The Mesa Verde Environment
Mesa Verde National Park is very close to Four Corners. Four Corners is where the states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado all meet. The Four Corners area has forested mountains and mesas, with large sagebrush plains in between.
The mesa tops are covered in a dense forest of pinyon and juniper trees. Animals and people alike enjoy pine nuts from pinyon trees. The hard wood of juniper trees gave people a strong material for building shelters. In summer, Mesa Verde can be very hot. But regular thunderstorms bring cool weather and lots of rain. In winter, a blanket of snow covers the mesa.
Life on the Mesa
The Ancestral Pueblo people lived on the mesa for over 700 years! That is over twice as long as the United States has been a country.
Over 1000 years ago, around 550 CE, the Ancestral Pueblo people began farming and building permanent villages on the mesa. These early homes were built of wood and adobe. They were built partly underground. Corn, beans, and squash were the three main crops. They were planted each spring and harvested in the fall. Over time, populations grew and new styles of homes were built. Large multi-story villages built of stone, called pueblos, soon became the most popular style of home.
By 1150 CE, cliff dwellings became a popular style of home on the mesa and in the surrounding areas. These villages were built of stone in alcoves (shallow caves) in the steep canyon walls. These cliffside homes may have offered extra protection and security. They were often built close to springs, which were places to get fresh water.
The Ancestral Pueblo people lived in cliff dwellings for 100 years. Then they began to migrate away from the region. Some scientists point to long periods of drought that might have caused people to move. Whatever the reason, the Ancestral Pueblo people moved toward the south. Today, 21 Pueblo communities in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas trace their heritage back to Mesa Verde.