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18 February 2022
A true understanding of Arizona begins with understanding its rich ancient history. Explore the archeological legacy left behind by different cultures as you discover prehistoric dwellings, the weathered remains of entire villages, artwork etched into rocks, relics, and artifacts. These were all left behind by the first people that populated the land.
Newspaper Rock gets its name from ancient headlines etched into the rock. It lies in the Petrified Forest National Park, hidden among the colorful badlands. There are more than 650 petroglyphs, some of which date back 2,000 years. This area is unique due to its high concentration of rock art. If you want more information about Petrified Forest National Park, check out this article.
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Several well-preserved ancient dwellings are located in north-central Arizona, including the Wupatki, Tonto, Walnut Canyon, and Tuzigoot national monuments. One of the most spectacular is this imposing 20 room, five-story structure built into a gorge in a white limestone cliff about 70 feet above the ground. When early explorers discovered the ruins, they thought the structure belonged to the Aztecs. Hence the name. But in fact, they belonged to the Sinagua Indian people. Pedestrians can explore the cliff house built by the Sinagua people more than 800 years ago by wandering along a paved trail shaded by sycamore trees. Check out this article if you want more information about Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well.
Rock walls adorn Cottonwood’s Verde River hilltop and run down its ridgeline. A 110-room pueblo called Tuzigoot was built by the Sinagua around 1000 A.D. The tribe was mainly agricultural, and its trade routes spanned hundreds of miles. Ancient peoples are believed to have left the area around 1400. Take a stroll along the loop trail to enjoy the lush Verde Valley framed by mountains. The National Park Service has restored several buildings at Tuzigoot (Apache for “crooked water”) in order to showcase the building materials and techniques used by these resourceful people.
The 25 cliff dwelling rooms in Walnut Canyon were built by the Sinagua, a pre-Columbian culture from about 1100 to 1250 AD. Using the natural contours of the canyon, the Sinagua built rock shelters in shallow alcoves below the rim. Many of these dwellings are well preserved, and some can be entered. Residents lived by farming soil pockets along the canyon’s rim. Although it is unclear why the Sinagua left their homes, it is believed they became assimilated into the Hopi culture.
A community thriving between the Painted Desert and the ponderosa mountains of northern Arizona seems unlikely. However, when temperatures were cooler and seasons were wetter in the early 1100s, the ancestors of today’s Pueblo communities created a bustling center of trade and culture. Hopi people believe that these sites represent the footprints of their ancestors. Wupatki Pueblo is the largest structure in the park, with three floors and nearly 100 rooms.
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Two distinctive Salado cliff dwellings overlook Roosevelt Lake at Tonto National Monument. These ancient structures were built inside natural caves within the Superstition Mountains 700 years ago. Artistic flair characterized the Salado culture as they produced exquisite pottery and intricate textiles. The visitor center displays artifacts from the site. You can visit the Lower Cliff Dwelling at any time. However, only guided tours are available from November through April for the larger Upper Cliff Dwelling.
Ancestral Puebloan dwellings dating back centuries are protected within Navajo National Monument located in a cavernous alcove in the canyon wall. Reservations are required to make the 17-mile round-trip hike to Keet Seel, the largest cliff dwelling in Arizona. Keet Seel is the most intact large site in the Southwest, as it still looks much as inhabitants left it 700 years ago, thanks to a massive rock overhang. Anthropologists can glimpse the distant past through granaries, pottery, petroglyphs, timbers, and corncobs.
The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground are operated by the Bureau of Land Management and are situated in a lonely stretch of desert northwest of Gila Bend. A cluster of basalt boulders stacked atop a granite outcropping contains around 800 petroglyphs. It is thought that the art is related to the Hohokam culture that inhabited the area between 350 and 1400 AD. Look for figures such as humans, animals, sun symbols, spirals, mazes, and concentric circles.
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Arizona is commonly known as the “Valley of the Sun” with over 300 days of sunshine a year. There are so many sunny days in Arizona that Phoenix has more sunshine days per year than any other metropolitan area in the country. In other words, if you suffer from Seasonal affective disorder, Arizona might be the state for you. The seasons are shorter and milder in Arizona (except perhaps for summer) — Arizona has an early spring with flowers blooming as early as January. Even the slightly chillier winter months won’t last long. Let’s find out what it’s like to
Arizona is famous for its desert landscapes, dramatic sunsets, and historic landmarks. But across the state, another form of art is quietly transforming walls, alleyways, and entire neighborhoods. Street art has become one of the most vibrant and accessible forms of creative expression in Arizona, turning ordinary buildings into outdoor galleries. From massive murals in downtown Phoenix to colorful installations in Tucson and unexpected pieces tucked into smaller towns, Arizona’s street art scene reflects the culture, history, and creativity of the communities that create it. advertisement Phoenix: A Growing Urban Canvas Phoenix has become the center of Arizona’s street art
Long before astronauts set foot on the lunar surface, scientists in Arizona were already studying it in remarkable detail. By the time President John F. Kennedy announced in 1961 that the United States would land a man on the moon before the end of the decade, researchers at the University of Arizona had already begun mapping the moon’s surface. Their work would prove critical to the success of NASA’s robotic missions and the historic Apollo landings. At the center of this effort was Gerard P. Kuiper, widely known as the father of modern planetary science. advertisement The Birth of Lunar
Arizona is a paradise for bird watchers, offering a diverse range of habitats that support both native species and migratory birds. From its desert landscapes to its high-altitude mountains, Arizona is home to an astonishing array of bird species. However, some birds in the state are considered rare, either due to their limited range, dwindling populations, or specific habitat preferences. In this article, we’ll explore some of the rarest birds in Arizona and what makes them so special. advertisement 1. California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Status: Critically Endangered The California Condor is arguably one of the most iconic rare birds in
