@elaterite

When I see these I always wonder. They were presumably so afraid of some group that they built high up in the cliffs. We know something about the cliff dwellers by what they left behind, but do we know anything about the people they were afraid of?

@wanderinghermit There were various waves of people who inhabited the canyons of SE Utah going back to at least 500 BCE. Research suggests the last big wave of cliff dwellers in 1200 CE were indeed building in defensive locations. The cliff dwellers are considered by many to be the ancestors of modern Pueblo people. However, some Navajo elders say they became Diné once the Navajo arrived in the region. But archeologists say Fremont people from the north were raiders in the canyons in the 1200s.

@elaterite

Interesting, thanks!

The Fremonts must have been pretty scary, because building and living up in the cliffs took a lot of energy. You wouldn't do it if you didn't have to.

@wanderinghermit I'm not sure. It is clear that some cliff dwellings are built where life would have been very difficult with lots of energy required growing food remote from the dwelling and hauling water long distances. They say that around the 1200s there was a lot of warring going on as environmental conditions deteriorated leading to famine. But many dwellings I've seen are in nice locations taking advantage of good shelter and easy access to water with fertile land nearby.

@elaterite

True, but you're still carrying all your stuff up ladders and steep cliff trails.

@wanderinghermit If you are talking about the Mesa Verde area, sure. Crazy cliffs there! But over on Cedar Mesa, not so much. Many ruins are in somewhat shallow canyons but in the cliffs above flash-flood level making for easy access to water & not too difficult access to the mesa top for farming. The canyon would offer good protection from the elements with minimal effort in constructing a comfortable dwelling. I'm sure climate also had a lot to do with where various waves of people built.