Mesa Verde is surrounded by boundary ranges that defined the territory of the Ancestral Pueblo People who lived in the cliff dwellings. On the east the San Juan Mountains and on the west, the Ute Mountains. They farmed the plateaus and carved out villages in the canyon alcoves. On Sunday we visited both the mountain overlooks and three of villages built from sandstone and mortar.

Coyote Village is defined by four kivas and twenty rooms in the overview photo below. In the description below the village is described as Far View House.  This village is at the highest point in the Park, Point Overlook, where our guide Gian brought us on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below Gian describes the customs observed in the kiva. Usually the spiritual practices lasted 7-14 days, requiring overnight stays in the kiva, while a fire smoldered in the center, filling the room with smoke.  The smoke was considered a purifying vapor in the room, even though it vented from the top.  The kiva pictured was connected to an adjoining kiva by a narrow passage, suggesting a common clan or cooperation between clans.

 

Gian noted the unique T-shaped door openings, with no clear purpose, unless to carry wide loads overhead.We visited the Cliff Palace a second time on this tour, getting another ranger’s perspective.

Across from the Palace is a single level dwelling near the top of the canyon called “Kokopelli lodge” by explorers of the canyon.  It is not clear how the two dwellings were connected, if at all.