The indians lived by hunting game and cultivating crops. All water had to be carried up to the dwellings. Drought forced the villagers to leave the cliff dwellings in 1580 and settle in the Rio Grande valley. The inhabitants of the Santa Clara Pueblo are descendants of the Puye.
Posts Tagged: Cliff Dwellings
3
Mar 14
New Mexico–Puye Cliff Dwellings 3
24
Feb 14
New Mexico–Puye Cliff Dwellings 2
Stairways and paths were cut into the cliff face to provide access to the dwellings as well as the mesa above. Ladders were also used for access and could be pulled up to prevent attacks or intrusion.
17
Feb 14
New Mexico–Puye Cliff Dwellings
The Cliff Dwellings are ruins of an abandoned pueblo on Santa Clara Pueblo land. They were home to as many as 1500 pueblo indians between 900 and 1580 AD. Dwellings were carved out of soft volcanic rock. Rooms were carved into the face of the cliff using stone or wooden tools. Additional dwellings are found on the mesa plateau.