Trip 3: The A.D. 1990s

What Did the Archaeologists Learn about Castle Rock Pueblo?

From the pottery, architecture, and tree-ring dates, we believe that Castle Rock Pueblo was built between A.D. 1256 and A.D. 1274. We learned from mapping and excavation that this village consisted of at least 40 rooms, 15 kivas, nine towers, and two dams in a nearby drainage. The population is estimated to have been between 75 and 100 people.

Sometimes archaeologists find out things they were not even trying to learn. Some of the interesting discoveries that caught our attention are described below.

Buildings

We excavated a kiva that is square. This is an unusual shape for a kiva in the Mesa Verde area, where most of the kivas are circular. Why did the people choose this different shape? Was this kiva built by a family who moved in from a different area? We may never be able to answer these questions, but we have a lot to think about!

Trade Items

Trade goods were discovered at Castle Rock Pueblo. These artifacts tell us that the people who lived at Castle Rock Pueblo interacted with their neighbors and with people living outside the Mesa Verde region.

Two types of pottery found at Castle Rock were made by ancient people who lived in the areas now called Arizona and New Mexico.

Marine shells, which were used as jewelry, came from the Gulf of California and the Pacific Coast of California.

We think this arrowhead was made by ancestral Puebloan people who lived in what is now southeastern Utah.

Rock Inscriptions

On the south face of the butte, we found a petroglyph.

Archaeologists believe that these pictures may support the theory that a conflict occurred at the pueblo.

Can you see the two people who are standing back-to-back with their bows drawn? What would be your interpretation of this petroglyph?

The Last Years at Castle Rock Pueblo

We still have a lot to learn about the last years of occupation at Castle Rock Pueblo. During the late A.D. 1200s, the ancestral Puebloan people moved from the Mesa Verde region southward to the Rio Grande valley, the Zuni area, and the Hopi mesas. At Castle Rock Pueblo, archaeologists found evidence that the villagers left after A.D. 1274. Human bones found during excavation showed evidence that some of the Castle Rock villagers died as a result of violence. It appears that the last event at Castle Rock Pueblo may have been a conflict where many people died. Archaeologists found few artifacts on the floors of the villagers' buildings. Did the people move their possessions before or after the struggle? We'll never know for sure.

The Castle Rock villagers may have been worried about the possibility of conflict with people from other pueblos or other cultures. When we examine the layout of the village, it looks like an easy place to protect. The low wall around the village may have acted as a barrier to outsiders. The towers and the rooms on top of the butte could have been used as lookout posts or as protected locations in any conflict.

Final Thoughts

Although the ancient Puebloan people left this area hundreds of years ago, modern Puebloan people have not forgotten about their ancestral homes. Ancient villages like Castle Rock Pueblo are remembered in their oral traditions. Archaeological sites are considered sacred places to visit, and they deserve respect.

When someone visits Castle Rock Pueblo today, it is difficult to tell that Crow Canyon excavated there. To preserve this fragile site, we refilled test pits and buildings with dirt following excavation. The site continues to be an important place on the Southwestern landscape. Now that you have seen this ancient village on your computer, you might want to tour this site in person. Castle Rock Pueblo is a wonderful place to visit. Please treat it with respect.

Trip 1
A.D. 1200s

Trip 2
A.D. 1800s

Trip 3
A.D. 1990s