Today Barbara and I took a short drive to visit the Montezuma Castle National Monument.
This area was inhabited by the Southern Sinagua Indians until approximately 600 years ago. They lived in this area for 500 years before they built the cliff dwellings seen here. During there time here they farmed the land adjacent to the Verde river growing corn, beans, squash, and cotton using canal irrigation. The surrounding area provided abundant resources: water from the river and streams, and sufficient game including deer, antelope, rabbit, bear, muskrat and duck. Their diet centered around corn, but they even mined salt nearby. They traded salt for other needs with other tribes in the area. But for reasons unknown, they left this area and moved north approximately 100 years after the dwellings were built. Today their architecture still stands and is protected by the National Park Service for all to enjoy.
RV There Yet? 