Four day weekends are always a rare occurrence but delightful to have, and the only thing regrettable about this past Memorial Day weekend is that there wasn’t time to visit enough places. Of course, I enjoy singing the praises of Arizona and was happy to finally visit the Montezuma Castle National Monument. This is one of the many intriguing and mysterious places found throughout this great state, and merely one example of an indigenous culture from Arizona’s distant past which once flourished and then disappeared.
The ancient Cliff dwellings in north central Arizona were created by the Sinagua people who were clan relatives of other tribes who lived throughout what is now the Verde Valley region. The main structure resembles more of a high rise apartment complex from half a millennium ago, rather than what most people would think of as a castle. The name Montezuma was also incorrectly linked to this site by Europeans who rediscovered the long abandoned site in the 1860s. At that time, many people falsely believed that the site was constructed by the Aztecs under the command of their Emperor Montezuma. However, the Aztecs did not, in fact, ever reside in the area.
It’s amazing to be on the path below looking up at this dwelling. How this was built some 90 feet above ground inside this rugged limestone cliff is cause for wonder – and quite impressive to say the least! Because of the treacherous location it’s believed that the residents had ladders that provided access to the structure, at the same time the location was well protected from potential enemies. Aside from that, the high elevation of the dwelling would have also protected the Sinagua people from the annual monsoon floods that would have drastically affected the area during the summer.
While it may have been relatively easy for the Sinagua to hoist clay or mud from the creek up to the construction site to use as mortar – how they moved the limestone blocks up the steep, sharp cliff side as the main building material would have been quite a feat. In any event, archaeologists believe the dwellings were built around 1050-1100 AD and were abandoned around 1425, or about sixty-seven years before Columbus first landed in the Western Hemisphere in 1492. Why the Sinagua cleared out of the site is uncertain, but the abandoned site became the third National Historic Monument in 1906, and is preserved and managed by the National Park Service.
The visitor center at the entrance to the monument details the history of the site, and discusses the agriculture of the Sinagua people, the tools they used, things they made, and pottery they may have traded with other indigenous tribes. Also nearby (about five miles) away is Montezuma Well. This is a natural limestone sinkhole where the water is supplied from a vast underground spring. This site is an extension of the monument and has structures similar to the Montezuma Castle. There’s also fun trivia related to the site. A western called Flaming Feather (1952) was largely filmed at the castle site and in nearby Sedona.
The Castle is supposed to figure prominently during the climax of the film. The story is basically about an outlaw who harasses the local settlers. A rancher and a U.S. Cavalry officer are in hot pursuit to reel him in and get justice for those who had their properties raided. I definitely will look for this movie because my curiosity is piqued as to how the Montezuma Castle works into the story! Also of note, there are close to 800 species of animals at the monument, and it’s easy to spot numerous types of birds and lizards along the walking trails. Of course, by Memorial Day weekend the temperatures in this part of Arizona can easily reach 95-100 degrees or more. So, it’s important to keep well hydrated bringing plenty of water if you plan on hiking through the park.
For more information about Montezuma castle and Montezuma Wells, visit: http://www.nps.gov
