Of The Earth
The people of Mesa Verde, known as Pueblo People, believed
that they arose from the earth - so all of their dwellings were in
fact dug out of the ground more than they were built on top of it.
We saw three versions of pit houses - starting with the most
primitive and moving forward in time to the most elaborate,
before we actually got to one of the "cliff cities."
It was amazing to see how the "technology" evolved from
literally a pit with a roof of twigs to a whole underground
structure with walls that were once plastered and painted and
rooms built strictly for community use and worship.
The people of Mesa Verde, known as Pueblo People, believed
that they arose from the earth - so all of their dwellings were in
fact dug out of the ground more than they were built on top of it.
We saw three versions of pit houses - starting with the most
primitive and moving forward in time to the most elaborate,
before we actually got to one of the "cliff cities."
It was amazing to see how the "technology" evolved from
literally a pit with a roof of twigs to a whole underground
structure with walls that were once plastered and painted and
rooms built strictly for community use and worship.
The First Pit House
Kate stands mesmerized at the thought of living in a
dwelling dug about three feet into the earth with just a
fire-pit for warmth in the Colorado winter.
Kate stands mesmerized at the thought of living in a
dwelling dug about three feet into the earth with just a
fire-pit for warmth in the Colorado winter.
The Second Pit House
This was part of a multi-family structure - sort of like
condos we guess. You can see how the pits are actually
deeper and have been reinforced by stone walls.
This was part of a multi-family structure - sort of like
condos we guess. You can see how the pits are actually
deeper and have been reinforced by stone walls.
Actually A 2 Room Structure
The room in the foreground of this picture
was used mostly for storage - like a big
closet - while the smaller, deeper room was
the living and sleeping quarters, not to
mention the kitchen and everything else.
The room in the foreground of this picture
was used mostly for storage - like a big
closet - while the smaller, deeper room was
the living and sleeping quarters, not to
mention the kitchen and everything else.
Kivas
The rooms built for worship became more
elaborate the further we went in our
chronological tour. These rooms, known as
Kivas, are believed to also have been used
for community events of all kinds. In this one,
there is evidence that the walls were once
plastered and even painted.
The rooms built for worship became more
elaborate the further we went in our
chronological tour. These rooms, known as
Kivas, are believed to also have been used
for community events of all kinds. In this one,
there is evidence that the walls were once
plastered and even painted.
The Third Pit House
This site was an entire city and outside the
walls of the building they have constructed to
protect it from both the elements and
animals - both wild and human - there was a
labyrinth of walls (like the one to the right
here) that indicate the people had finally
started constructing structures above ground
as well.
This site was an entire city and outside the
walls of the building they have constructed to
protect it from both the elements and
animals - both wild and human - there was a
labyrinth of walls (like the one to the right
here) that indicate the people had finally
started constructing structures above ground
as well.
Journeys
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| August 2006 |
Pit Houses
