Part 6: Tuzigoot National Monument Incursion - Stardate 66149.5 (2012)
Prologue: The USS Urland Universe continues its "2012 Incursion" series, documenting the traveler's exploration of Tuzigoot National Monument.
Main Entry:
Tuzigoot National Monument (34.770215, -112.026229), located just east of Clarkdale, Arizona, charged a $10 parking fee (same coordinates). Here is an image of the Tuzigoot ruins:
The name "Tuzigoot," an Apache word meaning "crooked water," refers to the remnant of a significant Sinaguan village built atop a limestone and sandstone ridge, approximately 120 feet above the Verde River floodplain, about 1,000 years ago. The Tuzigoot monument comprises 110 stone masonry rooms, showcasing the architectural ingenuity of its ancient inhabitants.
Ruins in Tuzigoot National Monument - GETTY
Archaeologists consider the Verde Valley an aboriginal melting pot where at least four prehistoric cultures intermingled. Tuzigoot is the vestige of a Sinagua village erected between 1125 and 1400 AD. The Sinagua people, whose name is Spanish for "without water," initially lived in pithouses and practiced dry farming around 600 AD. By 1125, they began constructing above-ground masonry structures and large pueblos on hilltops or in cliff alcoves, with Tuzigoot being a prime example of these later settlements. The original pueblo consisted of 77 ground floor rooms and at least 15 rooms on the second floor, totaling 92 excavated rooms. With few exterior doors, residents likely used wood-pole ladders to access the interior through roof hatchways.
It is believed that the population growth at Tuzigoot, and the subsequent building of additional rooms, was partly due to farmers migrating from drought-stricken outlying areas. Visitors are invited to walk in and around Tuzigoot, imagining the daily lives of the Sinagua who farmed, hunted, and created pottery and artwork in this area centuries ago.
Tuzigoot National Monument by Robert West - GETTY.
The Verde Valley itself owes its name (Spanish for "green") to the copper mineral malachite, although legend suggests Spanish explorers discovered gold near the Verde Fault in 1583. The region's true treasure was chalcopyrite, mined near Jerome from 1876 to 1953, with Clarkdale serving as the site of the smelting mill.
The preservation of Tuzigoot was aided by its location on land owned by the United Verde Company after white settlement. In 1933, local and federal support enabled Louis Caywood and Edward Spicer to begin clearing the site. By 1935, they had excavated the main block of rooms and numerous surrounding units, uncovering 86 rooms and several hundred burials. Floors and masonry walls were preserved, and some rooms were restored for public display. A museum was constructed nearby to house the artifacts discovered at the ruins. Thanks to the efforts of public-spirited local citizens, the entire ridge with Tuzigoot, the museum, and its collection was donated to the federal government. President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed it Tuzigoot National Monument in 1939.
The abundant water in the Verde Valley provides a rich habitat for various plants and animals, including deer, antelope, rabbits, and numerous bird species. The valley was formed by the Verde Fault, which uplifted the Black Hills and impounded the Verde River, creating a series of lakes and the deposition of the thick Verde Formation.
Conclusion: Tuzigoot National Monument stands as a significant testament to the Sinagua culture, offering insights into their architecture, way of life, and adaptation to the unique environment of the Verde Valley. Its preservation as a National Monument underscores its importance in understanding the region's rich prehistory.
Epilogue: The USS Urland Universe has documented the traveler's exploration of Tuzigoot National Monument, highlighting its historical and cultural significance, as well as the geological context of the Verde Valley. The series continues with the traveler's exploration of the more remote sites.
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