Tonto Nat'l Monument, February 2013: http://www.nps.gov/tont/index.htm
A lovely day for a history tour!
We visited the Lower Cliff Dwelling, a steep 1/2 mile walk up.
Built in shallow caves, perched over a thousand feet above the river valley, the cliff dwellings are representative of the final phase of occupation in this area, during the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries.
There are over 100 varieties of wild plants, as well as deer, rabbits, quail, and many other animals to hunt. There were also irrigated fields along the river, where the basin's inhabitants grew corn, beans, squash, cotton, and amaranth. They did have a small cistern (about 100 gallons), but the main water source was a small stream about 1/2 mile away.
A pretty advanced society for 600 to 800 years ago.
The Upper Cliff Dwelling, 3 miles, uphill
Did not have the gumption that day!
From the Lower Cliff Dwelling
Roosevelt Lake
On the trail up to the Lower Dwelling
The Lower Cliff Dwelling
Grafitti from 1921
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