NM History: Ancient Village in the Gila National Forest

Only in Your State | New Mexico | by Monica Spencer | Revised by Jaymi Firestone

History in New Mexico exists all around us, out in the open and hidden away. One of the breathtaking places that holds amazing historical presence in the Land of Enchantment is the Gila Cliff Dwellings.

These 800 year old dwellings that were built inside cliffs in the rocks are known as Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

It is a remote site tucked away in the Gila National Forest, and lies at the edge of the Gila Wilderness, which was the Nation’s first designated wilderness area. The dwellings are composed of just 533 acres, but the craftsmanship of how the Mogollon people constructed the dwellings has stood the test of time.

Between 1275 and 1300 AD, the dwellings were home to the Mogollon people. It was a community likely made up of about a dozen families living in five cliff alcoves and 42 rooms.

The Tularosa Mogollon people were farmers and scavengers. They tilled mesa and riverside fields of squash, corn and beans. They also learned to weave cotton cloths and gathered wild plants that were edible. The most interesting part of their livelihood in the dwellings may be their pottery skills, however. They made pottery in black, white and brown color shades, and artifacts of the broken bowls and other vessels were left when the Mogollon families left the dwellings.

Some time early in the 14th century, the dwellings were abandoned. No one has inhabited them since. Anthropologists have not determined why but Native American tradition and stories point to migration and environmental changes.

Visiting the dwellings themselves requires an easy hike. The trail is approximately one mile long and will require you to cross some bridges to access it, but park services have made sure they are safe for use! It’s a wonderful trek above the trees, so take your time to enjoy the views! It’s one you can’t find in most places.

Once you arrive, you’ll be astounded by the views.

Looting following American settlement of New Mexico included not just removal of pottery artifacts and tools but also several mummified bodies found near the dwellings. It’s unfortunate that artifacts were taken, but the cliff dwellings are still in fairly good condition considering how long ago they were built.

When visiting you have the opportunity to explore parts of the dwellings under the watchful eye of a park ranger. You can walk through the rooms, ask the ranger questions, and imagine what life must have been like nearly 800 years ago.