Bandelier is a newer national monument located outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ancestral Pueblo people inhabited the canyon from approximately 1150 CE and 1550 CE. There are cliff dwellings as well as ground built dwellings. The people farmed the land and consumed small animals such as rabbits and squirrels. They left the land due to drought and the land was not able to support the people. We walked a little over a mile to and handicap accessible trails to see most of the main dwellings.
Canyon where the people lived
Dwelling built into the volcanic walls
Giant Kiva used by the Pueblo people for religious and other gatherings
I did climb the ladder leading to a small room
That religious gathering is cool! 🙂 I thought the squirrel was a baby tiger when I first saw the picture! LOL 🙂
Wow – cool pictures – thanks for sharing!
Nice pictures!