Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace
Sinagua (1100–1350 CE)·Sinagua (Southern Sinagua)·🇺🇸 Arizona, Yavapai County, Camp Verde, Montezuma Castle National Monument, United States
About
About Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace
Montezuma excavated by Mearns 1890, no Aztec link, 45 rooms 5 tiers. Recorded context — Period: Sinagua (1100–1350 CE); Culture: Sinagua (Southern Sinagua); Field status: partially excavated; Materials: limestone, sycamore beam, adobe; Condition: preserved — NPS.
Why it mattersKey Sinagua (Southern Sinagua) ancient-village with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Collapse cause
Theories
- 01Seasonal gathering
- 02Observatory
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1100 CE 5-storey; 1200 CE upper floors
- Period
- Sinagua (1100–1350 CE)
- Culture
- Sinagua (Southern Sinagua)
- Purpose
- 5-storey 45-room cliff palace (16 m high) in Beaver Creek alcove — best preserved Sinagua high-rise
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1917
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace
2005 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace
On the ground
Structures & features
34.6120° N · 111.8360° W · 1140 m · 3 mapped features
- Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace — primary structure34.6111° N · 111.8374° W
- Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace — hydraulic feature34.6103° N · 111.8366° W
- Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Montezuma Castle — Beaver Creek Original 5-Storey Cliff Palace — primary structure34.6103° N · 111.8349° W
Gallery