It was a fall day in 1888. Two cowboys came across what looked like a tall city carved into a cliff. It looked empty and lonely. The only sounds were the whistling wind and the crunch of ice underfoot. Where were they?
The men had discovered the cliff homes of the ancient Pueblo at Mesa Verde. Soon, archaeologists rushed there to learn more about these people of long ago. Buildings are some of the only evidences left to tell us about people who lived in what is now the south western US more than 1400 years ago. At first, the ancient Pueblo moved from place to place. After a while, they began to build homes hidden under cliffs. The ancient Pueblo were creative skilled craft people and talented artists. We still do not know much of their story. But lucky for us they left behind these buildings.
We study ancient people by looking at the way they lived -- from the style of their homes to the pictures they drew. The art of the ancient Pueblo explains their beliefs, struggles, and daily lives. Some of their art shows people hunting animals. Other art might tell about a legend or make predictions about the future. But we don't know for sure.
The ancient Pueblo made art using the materials they had. They made colored paints using nearby plants. Like many traditional people throughout the world, the ancient Pueblo painted hand prints on rock. They also used sharp stones to create rock carvings.
Pottery also provides clues about the lives of the ancient Pueblo. These ancient pots and dishes are in amazingly good shape, which seems to be sitting around for seven days instead of 700 years. They are like a vividly-written historical book telling us about everyday lives of the ancient Pueblo.
Modern Pueblo, including the Hopi and the Zuni, still live in adobe(土胚) houses. Some modern Pueblo live on top of hills while others live in modern communities. They work with scientists and the government to protect the heritage sites. They want people to be able to learn about their culture for years to come.
