![]() photo by Sally King
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We barely start our walk and we find Ancestral Pueblo homes (remnants anyway) at the base of the cliff in Frijoles Canyon. These homes (cavates) were carved into the soft tuff rock of these cliffs. ![]() photo by Sally King
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The pueblo of Tyuonyi was once 2 to 3 stories high and housed about 100 people plus some dogs and turkeys. We are standing in the central plaza of the village. Imagine it full of people doing daily chores.
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The village of Tyuonyi is tucked into Frijoles Canyon, a lush oasis with a mostly permanent water source. As many as 700 Ancestral Pueblo people may have lived here at one time. ![]() photo by Sally King
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Today there are only remnants of the homes that once was the village of Tyuonyi. Tyuonyi Pueblo was built on the floor of the canyon but many other homes were built right into the soft rock of the canyon wall.
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Some people lived in the village and others lived in the cliff dwellings. Which place would you rather live? We don't believe the choice was one of status but more likely based on who got here first. There also might have been a seasonal component with more people living in the cliff dwellings in the winter when the sun would warm the homes.
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Talus House is a reconstruction from 1920 to show the structures that were built in front of many of the cavates. ![]() photo by Sally King
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Imagine you are an Ancestral Pueblo person. You would have to climb a ladder, maybe like this one, carrying food or maybe a small child. Be careful. ![]() photo by sally king
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Unfortunately not everyone who has come before you treated this place with respect. Those hand prints are graffiti left by recent visitors. Remember, always leave these places (natural or cultural) in the same or better condition than when you arrived. ![]() photo by Sally King
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Long House was built along the base of the cliff. Because the cliff helps support the dwellings many structures in this area were multiple stories high.
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Above the dwellings many petroglyphs (carved drawings) can be found, made where Ancestral Pueblo people stood on the roofs of their homes. No one knows the exact meanings of these carvings. ![]() photo by Sally King
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Houses during Ancestral Pueblo times were entered by climbing to the roof on a ladder then entering through a doorway in the roof. During inclement weather these openings would have been covered with stretched animal skins.
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This is the end of the Main Loop Trail though there are more dwellings along the base of the cliff for another .5 miles up the canyon. From here the trail drops down to Frijoles Creek where one turns back toward the visitor center or on up to Alcove House. ![]() Photo by Sally King |
Last updated: April 12, 2020