After leaving the mighty Grand Canyon we drove south to Camp Verde, Arizona, the home of Montezuma’s Castle and Well. The name, “Montezuma”, gives breath to the myth that this was the home of the Aztec Emperor of the same name however there is no evidence that Montezuma even knew of this place let alone visited Arizona. It was named by early white settlers who mistakenly thought Montezuma had once been here because of the native Indian dwellings.
A Detour on the Way
First morning at Camp Verde we wasted no time in deciding to drive to Montezuma’s Castle. It wasn’t far as its’ just across the highway and very accessible. But we hadn’t travelled far because once we crossed the highway we noticed a crowd in the local park and we wanted to see what was happening. We thought it was the local produce markets from afar but as we closed in it was a Navajo Veterans Group having a Pow Wow. There’s a video here.We checked out the craft tables, took some video and photos and then went on our way. I would have more but we were told they were not fond of being photographed so we ceased. (We could have kept filming but they were so friendly we respected their wishes to stop.)
On a Cliff in the Bush
When we got to the ‘castle’ site we quickly inspected the visitor centre to get an idea of the history behind the rockface residence before taking the trail to the actual structure. For obvious reasons tourists are not allowed into the structure but even from ground level it is still impressive. The pathway gets reasonably close so we were able to have a decent look. Like Mesa Verde these cliff houses are a marvel and are unique homes of people from an ancient time.
The Emperors Cliff Castle.
The castle is constructed of adobe mud bricks and is plastered on the outside. At 800 or more years old the condition of it is a credit to its designers and builders, the Sinagua Indians. The walls are 2 feet thick at the base tapering to one foot at the top. It is estimated to have been built between 1100 AD and 1350 AD. It was used not just as a residence but for social activities and meetings and food storage in the cavates in the rock wall. The cliff house was not the only structure here. There were Pueblos at the base of the cliff and around Wet Beaver Creek just 100 metres away. The Sinagua also farmed this area using irrigation from the creek.
More Than a Puddle
Having had a good look around the ‘castle’ grounds we jumped in to the car and headed to the partner site, Montezuma’s Well, just a few miles away. The Well was more impressive to me because of the way more natives had made their residence inside the well. Once we strolled to the top and looked over the edge from the lookout the first thing you see is another Sinagua cliff house and accompanying storage sites. The well has formed by subterranean seepage that rises through a more softer substrata filling the dome on the ridge. Directly opposite the dwelling but not visible from the top is another cave behind a heavily wooded area. On the lower side of the well seepage has lead to a natural overflow meaning that the well never floods.
A Leak in the Creek
Continuing on from the top of the well we strolled down towards the creek and saw more evidence of another Indian Pueblo before reaching Wet Beaver Creek. That well overflow comes out on the creek side of the dome and would naturally flow into the creek but the natives using creative ingenuity diverted the leakage via irrigation canals to their farmlands nearby. Shane and I followed the canal to the source of the leak from the well and back again towards the car park.
A Quick Pit Stop
On the way home we made a quick stop at another ancient accommodation, a pit house just outside of the local village. This house site has been coated (by archaeologists) with a protective sealant and is in good condition. The construction of this ties in closely to those we’ve seen (and posted) over the last few months.
Cheers for now
Garry & Shane.