Spruce Tree House Mesa Verde
by Joan Carroll
Title
Spruce Tree House Mesa Verde
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Photography And Digital Art
Description
Spruce Tree House, a cliff dwelling that is part of the Mesa Verde National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Colorado, was constructed between A.D. 1211 and 1278 by the ancestors of the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest. The ancient dwelling contains about 130 rooms and 8 kivas, or ceremonial chambers, built into a natural alcove measuring 216 feet (66 meters) at greatest width and 89 feet (27 meters) at its greatest depth. It is thought to have been home for about 60 to 80 people. By 1285, following a period of social and environmental instability driven by a series of severe and prolonged droughts, the people abandoned the area. Not too long ago you could set your feet in the same places as these native people. But in February 2016 Spruce Tree House was closed for self-guided tours due to falling rock. Personally, it leaves more of a sense of mystery and awe to see the deserted 'house' than to see it overrun by 21st century people in cargo shorts, t-shirts and flip flops. Mesa Verde National Park was created by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and is located near the Four Corners region of the American Southwest where the boundaries of Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico meet.
FEATURED PHOTO, I Love Photography group, 6/29/16
FEATURED PHOTO, Artist News group, 6/27/16
FEATURED PHOTO, 500 Views -1 Image A Day group, 6/26/16
FEATURED PHOTO, Out West - 13 States group, 6/25/16
FEATURED PHOTO, Images That Excite You group, 6/22/16
FEATURED PHOTO, Pleasing the Eye group, 6/18/16
FEATURED PHOTO, I Wish I Was There group, 6/18/16
joan carroll, ruins, pueblo, ancient, anasazi, indian, landscape
Uploaded
June 18th, 2016
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Viewed 5,000 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 03/28/2024 at 7:24 AM
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Comments (90)
Elizabeth Tillar
Wonderful capture of this familiar site, Joan, which I visited long ago! Great description, too! l/f/g+