Photo Gallery

Spruce Tree House, one of the most impressive and best preserved Pueblo towns in Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado). In the foreground, a ladder leads into the subterranean kiva, the round ceremonial chamber. The pueblo was inhabited from about 1200 to 1300. Anasazi Culture.

Cedar Tree Tower and a well-preserved kiva on the Chapin Mesa. Because of the wide view it allowed, this tower most likely served as a watch tower. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)

Pottery from the various prehistoric cultures. Container from a kiva, 13 inches diameter, Mesa Verde, Anasazi Culture, MVM
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Tools, awls and needles of deer and bird bones. Length: from 2.86 inches. Mesa Verde (Colorado), Anasazi Culture, MVM. - Two bone fragments (perhaps deer) with incisings, which may have been used in games. Each l.12 inches long. Mesa Verde, Anasazi Culture, MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Woven sandals made of yucca fiber. The sandal to the left is made with a more refined technique, from Mummy Cave, Canyon del Muerto in Canyon de Chelly (Arizona). The sandal on the right is from Long House, Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado). Both Anasazi Culture, MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Examples of Anasazi masonry. The Mesa Verde style, which consists of nearly uniform stones, joined with mortar.

Access ladders, at Balcony House, Mesa Verde (Colorado)

Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde, one of the most famous Pueblo cliff dwellings. This Anasazi "city" was inhabited from 1073 to 1272. At its peak it numbered 200 rooms, 23 kivas and about 250 inhabitants. It was built under an overhanging cliff and is 330 feet long, 100 feet wide and 66 feet high.

View into one of the kivas at Mug House, Mesa Verde (Colorado), with the six characteristic features: fire pit, deflector, sipapu, air shaft, pilasters and bench.

Bowl and kiva vessel: Pottery characteristic of Mesa Verde, black on white, decorated with geometric designs, creating a kinetic positive-negative effect. Diameter: 10.4 inches. The ears of corn date from the time when Mesa Verde was inhabited. Anasazi Culture, MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Grooved hammer of gray porphyry; the wooden handle is held together with yucca fiber. Length: 13.4 inches. Mug House, Mesa Verde (Colorado), MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Mesa Verde pottery: two lids, black on white. Diameter: 3.64 inches. Mug House, Wetherill Mesa (Colorado), Anasazi Culture, MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Animal design on Mesa Verde pottery. - stylized deer - Mug House, Mesa Verde (Colorado), MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Animal design on Mesa Verde pottery. - stylized bird, perhaps a turkey - Mug House, Mesa Verde (Colorado), MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Olla with two handles, black motif on a yellowish base, decorated with suns, stars, curved lines and hatched areas. Height: 12.96 inches. Mesa Verde (Colorado), Anasazi Culture, UCM.
UCM = University of Colorado Museum, Boulder (Colorado)

Pitcher, black on white, richly painted, with handle in the shape of an animal (perhaps a dog with wings). Height: 7.32 inches. ASM.
ASM = Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona)

Mug, black on white. This drinking vessel was once broken and repaired in prehistoric times; the handle has a rare T-shaped cut-out. Height: 4 inches. Mesa Verde, Anasazi Culture, ASM.
ASM = Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona)

Water jar with incising. Length: 6.84 inches. Rio Grande Region, Anasazi Culture (Collection of A. Bandelier), ASM.
ASM = Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona)

Corrugated ware with yucca fiber twine; the base is made of juniper bark. Height: 9.8 inches. Kayenta Region, Anasazi Culture, ASM.
ASM = Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona)

Mesa Verde pottery: pots, pitchers and mugs, black on white with geometric designs. The double mug is among the most unusual pieces. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado), MVM. - Water jar. Height: 3.0 inches. Wetherill Mesa (Colorado).
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Mesa Verde pottery: pots, pitchers and mugs, black on white with geometric designs. The double mug is among the most unusual pieces. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado), MVM. - Double pitcher. Height: 3.8 inches.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Mesa Verde pottery: pots, pitchers and mugs, black on white with geometric designs. The double mug is among the most unusual pieces. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado), MVM. - Kiva pot. Height: 5.6 inches; diameter: 7.76 inches at the widest point. Long House.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Mesa Verde pottery: pots, pitchers and mugs, black on white with geometric designs. The double mug is among the most unusual pieces. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado), MVM. - Pitcher with handle. Height: 7.28 inches; diameter: 7 inches at widest point. Chapin Mesa
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

Water jug (olla), with incised lines typical of the black-an-white pottery of Mesa Verde. The thongs fastened around it are of yucca for ease of canying. Diameter: 14.4 inches. Wetherill Mesa, Mesa Verde, MVM.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)