Mesa Verde: The History of the Ancient Pueblo Settlement

by Jesse Harasta, Charles River Editors

*Includes pictures.*Includes footnotes and a bibliography for further reading.*Includes a table of contents. When the Spanish came into contact with different tribes in the Southwest, they were so intrigued by the structure of the communities that they gave the natives the name Pueblo, a term they used to measure certain sizes for their own settlements.. Thus, while most Americans have heard of the Pueblo and Navajo, many remain unfamiliar with distinctions within the tribes. The Spaniards’ interest was understandable, because the Pueblo fascinated those who came across their settlements, especially those located in desert regions and the sides of cliffs that involved the use of adobe mud, stone, carving homes out of cliffs. One such settlement, Oraibi, was created around 1100 A.D. and remains one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America, but the most famous of the cliff dwellings can be found at Mesa Verde, which was turned into a national park in the early 20th century, about 1500 years after the Ancient Pueblo established the settlement. Today’s Puebloan tribes are descended from tribes known as the “Ancestral Puebloan People”, one of which was the Anasazi, but anthropologists believe that the Anasazi were a common ancestor of every Pueblo group, so the Ancient Pueblo are often referred to simply as the Anasazi. The name Anasazi came from their enemies; it is a Navajo word that means “enemy ancestor”. While that name understandably continues to offend the descendants of the Anasazi, it also underscores that there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the history of the Anasazi. In fact, it is still unclear what the Anasazi called themselves, and though they resided near the “Four Corners” area of Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico for more than 700 years, they mysteriously abandoned their settlements shortly after they truly began to flourish around 1050-1150 A.D. Despite the mystery surrounding the Anasazi, it’s widely agreed that they occupied Mesa Verde and its unique structures for a period of nearly 700 years, beginning as early as the 7th century. Thanks to its occupants taking advantage of the surrounding geologic formations, Mesa Verde is an amazing collection of cliff dwellings, as well as houses that utilize caves and rock overhangs, and structures consisting of adobe and sandstone. Unfortunately, the natural conditions that make Mesa Verde so special also likely played a role in its abandonment, with overpopulation and drought forcing inhabitants out near the end of the 13th century. Mesa The History of the Ancient Pueblo Settlement covers the establishment of Mesa Verde from its origins until its establishment as a national park. Along with pictures, footnotes, and a bibliography, you will learn about Mesa Verde like never before.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

63 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2014

Reviews

[Sheila Cooke-Kayser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview

Good overview of Mesa Verde before my visit to the National Monument . Provided a good perspective of the sites and the story of the Ancient Puebloan people.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having visited Mesa Verde about twenty years ago, I enjoyed the photos and explanations of its history. I want to thank whoever added the photos; they made all the difference in understanding the nuances of the text. The explanation of the site's history and how things changed over generations was informative.

The author was careful to name the ancestors who lived in the pueblo cliffs because "Anasazi" is considered a term of derision by some tribes. Bless Teddy Roosevelt for turning this area into a federal park, to protect it and provide information to our grandchildren. I had forgotten that this is a 'World Heritage Site,' designated by UNESCO.

I was amazed to have finished the book in record time because the text and photos were so engaging.

[Jeremy Holloman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The copy editing could be better, but mainly I thought it was an extremely superficial look at Mesa Verde. If you are looking for a quick read to familiarize yourself before a trip to the area then this will probably suffice. If you are looking for a more in-depth treatment of Mesa Verde this is not the book.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's so much I don't know about the Anasazi and this book served its purpose well enough, but there were far too many typos and punctuation errors.

[Roy Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Well researched article. As a child in the 1950s, I visited Mesa Verde three times and have always had unanswered questions about this fascinating location. This short book answered some of them and has fueled my further investigations into these ancient people.