Last updated: January 23, 2024
Place
Cave 1: A Good Place for the Family Home
NPS/Sean Dupre'
Quick Facts
Location:
Gila Hot Springs
Significance:
Cliff Dwelling
Designation:
National Monument
Amenities
1 listed
Benches/Seating
While you pause here to catch your breath, imagine this is your home. Do you see closets or storage space? Is there a kitchen area for cooking? What about working and sleeping space for the family? It is all here, with a solid roof over your head, and a beautiful view of the surrounding area. The smaller rooms were used for storage, the large space that now looks open was likely an enclosed living space, and the fire pit represents a cooking area.
What’s Cooking?
Of the 32 species of plant remains found in the dwellings, 24 were wild. These include wild grapes, berries, acorns, and piñon nuts. Domestic crops grown included several varieties of corn, beans, and squash. Early inhabitants grew these crops along the river and high on the mesa tops. The rabbits and deer of the area would have been a welcomed source of protein for the Mogollon people’s diet.
What’s Cooking?
Of the 32 species of plant remains found in the dwellings, 24 were wild. These include wild grapes, berries, acorns, and piñon nuts. Domestic crops grown included several varieties of corn, beans, and squash. Early inhabitants grew these crops along the river and high on the mesa tops. The rabbits and deer of the area would have been a welcomed source of protein for the Mogollon people’s diet.