We continued our review of cliff dwellings today. We moved to a different part of the park to see more sites. We started at Step House. At this site we were able to get closer to the cliff dwelling but were still blocked from entering the actual site. Seeing the site in more detail increased the awareness of the complexity of the building process and the challenges of living in a cliff dwelling.
Once you get closer to the buildings you can see how much time it took to prepare the stones and to construct the buildings.
Part of the increased understanding came from walking to the site. Here is the staircase we descended to get to the site. That descent used to be stones and boulders. Imagine trying to carry the materials needed over that terrain!
We also traveled to a place called Badger house to see the excavation of early housing from the area. The buildings were built into the ground both for protection from the elements and to save on transporting materials. The builders liked circular structures, perhaps because circular structures maximize the area provided with the least materials.
They did not use circles exclusively, but they used them a lot.
After Badger House we went on a ranger guided tour of Long House. We were allowed to climb up to the cliff dwelling, but were under strict orders to look but not touch.
Long House is the second largest cliff dwelling community in the park. They estimate that between 150 and 200 people could live in the space provided.
With such a small population, it is likely that large family groups lived close to each other. The structures indicate that this was like condo living, only closer to your neighbors/family.
Almost all sections had the same basic components. A round kiva that was the gathering/eating place, some storage space, and some sleeping area. Each “unit” was quite small. These are the original tiny houses.
Here is a closeup of one unit. Look at the number of stones and the amount of mortar used.
Then estimate the quantity of stones and mortar needed to build this structure. Also notice the spaces at the upper level of the cliff dwelling. They must have used ropes or ladders to get up and down from there.
It has been almost a thousand years sine these structures were occupied. This is an arid area, and the caves provide some protection. However, how do you think your house would look after 1000 years of no maintenance?
Also, how would you like to use ladders rather than stairs to move around your house? These structures are amazing for the engineering they took to build, and for the way they have endured. Quite a testament to their builders.
Every day we see some new plant or animal life. Who plants these and tends them? They look better than the flowers in our yard, yet they are in the desert.
After our tour of Long House, it was time to move on toward our next destination. We hopped in the Highlander and headed to Moab Utah to see Arches National Park. The scenery is always unique in each section of the country.
Even though it is just mountains and plains for miles and miles, each area we travel through comes across as unique and special.
As we neared Moab, we saw one of the first arches of many we will see over the next few days. I wonder who drilled that hole in the wall?
It looks random, but can random really make something like that?