We awaken in a landscape of red bluffs and buttes where the early morning suns rays delightfully play with the shadows on their faces. Our goal today is to visit Montezuma and retrace the footsteps of the Sinagua People.
In a relatively small corner of this enchanting land are some exciting places of historical significance. There are lots of mysteries in the far corners of this earth and many incredible sights you may have never heard of.
These are the incredible settlements of the Sinagua people.
Our first stop of this trifecta, and in no particular order, for retracing the footsteps of the Sinagua people is Montezuma Castle.
You may never have heard of these places, and you shouldn’t feel bad because we hadn’t either.
On first sight, we sat and stared at every blemish in the rocks with admiration. This castle in the wall of a cliff has charisma and wonder that grabs you. As if you could catch a swift glimpse of the spirits going about their daily tasks unaware of your presence.
You see how ingenious these individuals were using what Nature gave them and building upon it for a strategic shelter.
It is a quick third of a mile paved loop trail, but the short distance is definitely something to see in person.
The History of Montezuma Castle
It is assumed that Sinagua farmers built this 20 room castle between 1100 and 1300. Early American settlers thought at first, the structure was Aztec in nature; therefore, they named it Montezuma.
Just a short distance away was another impressive 5 story high, 45 room castle that now sadly has deteriorated beyond recognition.
Montezuma Well
Our next stop was just a short distance along the road from Montezuma Castle, known as Montezuma Well.
This natural formation, which is incredible in its own right, is made even more impressive by how it was used. Ancient irrigation channels can still be seen in sections, as well as the cave dwellings turned into shelters.
What we really appreciate about these places is how the Sinagua have built into the landscape. Using it as an aide instead of destroying it for their needs. They changed to suit the land, instead of changing the land to suit them.
The History of Montezuma Well
The well contains 15 million gallons of water, in an area that receives only 13 inches of rainfall a year. Daily 1.5 million gallons escape into Beaver Creek but are immediately replenished in this limestone sinkhole.
The waters that fill it now, actually created it starting over 10,000 years ago. As rainwater and snowmelt receded below the earth’s surface, it began a void. Eventually, the ceiling collapsed, forming the pool we see today.
Historians theorise that the Sinagua settled this area anywhere from 1125 to 1400 and 100 to 150 people lived here. The pit house at the beginning of the park though, dates back to around 1050.
The last historical site we visited was the furthest away but gives you a more visual impression of scale.
Tuzigoot
Tuzigoot was excavated from under a pile of rubble in the 1930s.
Can you imagine if nobody had ever decided to look?
It is funny when you see the remnants of an extensive infrastructure like this, it makes you realise how much work went into it—also, the amount of importance it held to those who called it home.
Tuzigoot History
Archaeologists think the Sinagua settled in Tuzigoot, (which means crooked river), around 1000 to 1400AD. It sits 120 feet above the Verde Valley and held around 90 ground floor rooms. The rooms were accessed with ladders through holes in the roofs.
They presume this settlement started with about 50 people but by 1200 the population doubled and soon after, doubled again.
This was our final location for retracing the footsteps of the Sinagua people.
Here is a video we made retracing the footsteps of the sinagua people
location map of montezuma – Retracing The Footsteps Of The Sinagua People
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