Occupying the southwest region of Colorado a whopping 1400 years ago, the Pueblo Native Americans set a standard for architectural design seldom seen since. Carving villages out of the red rocks in what is now known as Mesa Verde National Park, the Pueblo made spectacular use of their surroundings for food, water, and protection before eventually evacuating the area for unknown reasons.

Reportedly making the top of the mesa their home for around 600 years, scientists can?t explain why the Pueblo abandoned the flat land in favor of the cliff dwellings, which were impressively built and nearly impossible to access. Of course, that could have been the entire point, with one theory suggesting that the tribe moved into the hillside as a defensive move, as it provided a good lookout from which to spot rival tribes. Another theory is that the cliff overhangs offered protection from the elements during what could have been an extremely hot or cold time period.
Considering today?s weather patterns in the area, snow likely accumulated heavily during the winter in the Mesa Verde of old. But regardless of the reasons why the moved, it’s clear the Pueblos migrated from the mesa to the cliff dwellings around the year 1190. From that point on, the tribe was broken into villages around a massive canyon, with houses and meeting areas meticulously sculpted into nearly inaccessible caverns. The dwellings ranged in size from small storage areas to massive complexes wi...