Continuing yesterday's post...
From the petroglyphs you travel a short distance to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
What a marvel! Not because they
are magnificent and captivating, but because the park service has kept them
relatively untouched…well as much as you can from their discovery in 1878.
The one-mile loop trail winds through a step canyon, crosses a river, and rises 180 feet above the canyon
floor. The steep rock steps are often narrow, and even for Colorado people, it
is a climb! But I wouldn’t want to discourage you, just take your time, wear
sturdy shoes, and bring water. You will be blessed by your efforts when you
finally reach the first of the 6 caves. Dwellings were built in 5 of the caves and you actually walk through 3 of the largest caves.
Stunning! Stunning! Stunning! That is how I would describe
the dwellings. We have been to Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings and several others,
however there was something magical about these - maybe because you can truly
visualize living there, maybe because they are more intimate.
The dark smoke stained ceilings, the sectioned rooms, the
ladders from one section to another. Or that it is easy to imagine Mogollon families living here...I’m not exactly sure but as you can tell we
were really taken by them.
Archeologists have evidence that many different groups have
inhabited this area over thousands of years. Questions like; what motivated one
group to build inside the caves between 1270 and 1300 and why was their stay so
short still linger and lead to further mystery about the dwellings.
The first to build cliff dwellings were the Mogollon (mo-go-yon)
culture. They built the dwellings with rock, mortar, and timbers from trees cut
between 1276 and 1287. They lived, farmed, hunted, and raised their families in
the dwellings until the 1300s. After they mysteriously left in 1300, (reason
still unknown), no one lived there for over 100 years.
It is unclear who or if others lived in the Gila Cliff Dwellings after the
Mogollon’s left? The Mimbres
branch of the Mogollon culture was in the area as were the Chiricahua Apache. With their leader Geronimo, (who was born near the Gila River
headwaters) the Apache stayed in the area for a while, and left artifacts such as bows and
arrows. There is also evidence of miners and Spanish explorers here.
So as you can see, not only were we taken with the
buildings, the area, and its’ peoples. We are fascinated
by the mystery and beauty of it all. If you are in this part of New Mexico this is a must stop... it
is an interesting and intriguing place.
