Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

On a recent trip to New Mexico we visited Bandelier National Monument, this was in fact the favorite part of the trip it was amazing seeing these ancient cliff dwellings and the fascinating desert landscape. 

The Ancestral Pueblo people lived here from around 1150 CE to 1550 CE, building homes carved from the volcanic tuff and planted crops in fields along the river. 

This area reminded up a little of Matera in Italy an ancient city with cave dwellings built in a very dry area, people were able to live in both places because of the presence of a natural spring that feed a stream and supported agriculture and life there. Matera is still lived in to this day however the pueblo Indians left this area in 1500's when droughts became bad and the area was no longer easy to live in. 

The drive from Santa Fe was beautiful and if returning to Albuquerque be sure to drive through Jemez springs. The High dessert landscape is fascinating in the highest elevations you can find snow and pine trees in the lower areas, wonderful red rock formations, cacti and brilliant bold skies. 

You can climb into various of the houses and get a sense of how the Native Americans lived. 

In this short clip you get a sense of the beauty and quiet of the canyon and even hear the stream.

Entering a cave the kids loved this.

It gets really hot be sure to wear a hat and drink lots of water, the visitor center also has water fountains. 

Where have you visited recently to learn about ancient history?

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