G I L
A C L I F F D W E L L I N G S I I |
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May your trails be
crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing
view; May your mountains rise into and above the clouds --Edward
Abbey |
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Gila Cliff Dwellings, Silver
City,
New Mexico |
explored & photographed by:
Shady From
the 1280s through the early 1300s, these caves were home to the Mogollon
tribe, and 10 to 15
families dwelt within their walls. One of the things that makes this
place so fascinating to me is how the Mogollon, much like the Anasazis,
seemed to abandon their dwellings rather mysteriously. While there are many theories on why it was
deserted- from sickness to enemy attack to overcrowding to drought- nobody can
say for certain what compelled them to just desert a site that was so
rich in resources and that they had put so much work into, so it's
interesting to speculate on... |
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...the cliff dwellings would have
been an ideal location to settle in, having everything they'd
need- the tribe hunted the local wildlife,
including whitetail and mule deer, and they most likely farmed in fields
next to the nearby Gila River growing corn, beans and squash. They were
very skilled at pottery-making and weaving, and used the local yucca plants
for material to make sandals and other clothing. So as we explored
the remains of their ancient community, we couldn't help wondering
why they would have just left it all behind. |
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We walked along the narrow catwalks
that lead to other rooms and levels, and we saw more pictographs- a
human figure, snakes,
some red handprints (which didn't show up well in the pic I shot
unfortunately)- and climbed up and down some pretty freaky rickety
wooden ladders that connect the huge multi-level structures. |
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The view
of the valley from inside the cliff dwellings is spectacular, with
the sparkling Gila River and the bridge spanning it at the trailhead
in clear view wayyy below... the Mogollon had a breathtaking
view of both land and sky to greet them each day, that's for sure. And
the whole place just has such a primitive-yet-timeless aura about it.
All of that, along with it's mysterious past, just make it a very
fascinating site to explore.
Designated
as a national monument in 1907, the park is open year-round and both
guided and self-guided tours are available... check out their
site for more info.
BACK TO GILA PAGE
ONE
Do you have any background information or stories to tell about this
ancient site?
Want
to purchase one of these, or any of my other photos...?
O W N A P I E C
E O F L O S T H I S T O R Y:
All
of my pics are available for purchase as
high-quality prints on Kodak glossy paper, in 5x7 or 8x10 size; framing
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+THE LOST
SOUTHWEST+
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