Montezuma's Castle - November 2012

We had been to Montezuma's Castle 2 times over the last 20-some years, but a refresher (with a better camera) was a lot of fun. We got re-educated!

The main part of the Castle is a 20 room dwelling built into a limestone cliff. These were are hardy and innovative people, living in the desert and all that. In total, they have discovered 45-50 rooms in the ruin that was built by the Sinagua people who inhabited this riparian "oasis" along Beaver Creek for over 400 years.

Although the climate is arid with less than 12 inches of annual rain, several streams feed the Verde Valley where the Castle resides.

They grew the little eenie weenie teenie tiny corn of the era, and lived on that plus seed-foods and the fruits of the cactus. They were basically hunter/gatherers that also farmed.

The pictures below show the main Castle, ajoining ruins near the valley floor, the Verde River tht flows nest to it, and the model of the Castle with the front cut away to see what living there was like.

http://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/directions.htm