![]() When you visit the site, you’ll understand the Sinagua’s ingenuity. Sinagua means “without water”, a term they called the San Francisco Peaks, the closest mountain range, “the mountain without water”. Since we don’t know what they called themselves, we borrowed the term from the Spanish explorers. Now we know that the “castle” is, in fact, the legacy of the people we call Sinagua, ancient inhabitants of the high deserts of Arizona. Over the years, we learned more about the site. Built into the limestone cliff above the trail, the 40-room towering building is truly impressive. Visiting the cliff dwelling, I can see why they believed it to be a castle of the legendary Aztec king. But travelers of European descent who first saw this cliff dwelling didn’t know that. Besides, people lived in this “castle” a century before Montezuma was even born. So far north from the world of Montezuma, it should have been obvious that it wouldn’t fit. Not a castle, and definitely not built by the legendary Aztec king, Montezuma Castle is a misnomer. ![]() The following list include some of my favorite cliff dwellings, ancient ruins, and archaeological sites in Arizona. Over the decades, I visited many others and learned more about the people who built and inhabited them. It was my introduction to the ancient ruins of Arizona and the desert Southwest. Never before have I seen a cliff dwelling, an ancient village built inside the rock. The first ancient structure I saw on this road trip was Montezuma Castle. Instead, we drove through Northern Arizona. During the heat of September, we didn’t linger in the city. Our main destination was the Grand Canyon (obviously), and we landed in Phoenix with a week’s vacation. ![]() I came across some of these archaeological sites during my first visit to Arizona with my husband, in 1993. Through the years, I’ve explored many, though I know more are hidden in plain view in our surroundings. I love he chance to visit them over and over again. The stories of the ancients, and by extension, the remains of their civilizations are part of the reason I live in Arizona. Please check their websites before making plans to visit.ġ7 Q &A: In a Nutshell about the Ancient Ruins of Arizona My Introduction to the Ancient Ruins of Arizona While at this time (May 2022), they are all open, some may close again. Note: To combat CoVid-19 and its variants, some of the sites may still have specific requirements and protocols to follow. We’ll learn not only about the ancient people of Arizona, but also about their descendants, the modern-day Native tribes. Some of the exhibits also offer explanations about what happened to the people who built these ancient structures. We can get an idea of how people lived in this environment before modern amenities and air conditioning. This ensures that we can visit them and learn about the civilizations that built them. In Arizona, as in most of the Southwest, the larger ruins are protected They are incorporated in National Parks and Monuments, State Parks, or museums. Unfortunately, as we build up our environment, fewer and fewer places like this remain untouched. All you have to do is look under your feet, no need to even dig for them. In some areas, you’ll find potsherds dating from thousands of years ago laying on the desert surface. In the desert, things get preserved, baked and dried for future generations to find. If you’re someone who loves to take a refreshing plunge in the Arizonian swimming holes then scroll down to learn more.Thousands of ancient ruins, many of them cliff dwellings, are scattered all over Arizona and in the US Southwest. As you head to the more secluded areas of the southern region you will be greeted with the red rugged scenery, spellbinding waterfalls, turquoise swimming holes, and bewitching creeks. Its less explored places like the Hopi villages dates back to 1,000 years offers visitors incredible encounters. It has utterly attracted many adventurers to places like the spectacular Grand Canyon, Red Rock State Park, Monument Valley, and the Sonoran Desert filled with pink-blossom cacti. From its iconic cowboys to its indigenous Native American culture, Arizona offers travelers a unique cultural experience. On the other end, its southern desert region has very hot summers and mild winters. Its northern region is sprawled with luxuriant pine forests and ski resorts such as Flagstaff, which has moderate summer temperatures to significant winter snowfalls. In the southwestern part of the United States lies Arizona-a land of contrast.
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