The ceilings were six-feet high and the T-shaped doors five feet. The doors were kept low and small to preserve heat in the room. Montezuma Well is located about six miles upstream from Montezuma Castle. The well is 55 feet deep and feet wide. Underground natural springs constantly pump over 1. Ancient dwellings surround the well as well as an ancient irrigation ditch, parts of which are at least 1, years old. The Sinagua used the ditch to reroute water to their crops. The ditch was later used by early white settlers and is still used today by residents of the Verde Valley.
Montezuma Well supports a thriving ecosystem which includes a handful of unique species. The well may be best known, however, for its population of Sonoran mud turtles. The medium-sized, water-dwelling turtles are thought to be native to the well.
When the population of Sonoran mud turtles began to decline due to the introduction of non-native turtle species, the National Park Service intervened and methodically removed the non-native invaders. Montezuma Castle is still standing thanks to its low humidity and an alcove which protects it from the elements.
But by the late s, looters, curiosity-seekers and amateur archaeologists had ransacked it, leaving it in danger of crumpling. In , the Arizona Antiquarian Association fortified the structure and repaired as much damage as possible. At first, tourists could tour the abode by climbing ladders up the side of limestone cliffs.
But this direct contact left it in disrepair and public access ended in Preserving Montezuma Castle is no easy task. The first restoration effort took place in to repair damage caused by looters. Other efforts to stabilize the structure have taken place every decade or so since.
A major restoration occurred in the mids after a carpenter bee infestation bore holes into the adobe plaster. To ensure authenticity, preservationists strive to complete renovations in the Sinagua tradition using local materials and often performing repairs by hand.
Weather, insects, flooding and rot constantly threaten the centuries-old Montezuma Castle. The National Park Service continues to monitor it closely and regularly takes proactive measures to preserve this national treasure for the more than , tourists who visit it each year. Inside Montezuma Castle: Preservation.
National Park Service. Montezuma Castle. National Geographic Society. You may also soak in the natural hot springs in Montezuma located on the campus but available to visitors subject the rules of the college.
Santa Fe Trail Home. Back to Las Vegas Page Tours are conducted at designated times. Soak in the hot springs located on the campus.
Please observe campus rules. The Montezuma Castle The Campus is open for tours at certain scheduled times conducted by the students. Today, the site of Montezuma Castle is open to the public, and formal ranger tours, as well as a self-guided loop trail are offered. Since , however, visitors have not been allowed to climb up to the national monument, so as to minimize further damage to Montezuma Castle.
Top image: Montezuma Castle. Buscher, L. Montezuma Castle. National Park Foundation, Montezuma Castle National Monument. National Park Service, The American Southwest, The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica , Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods Read More.
Ancient Origins has been quoted by:. At Ancient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exist countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained.
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Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Skip to main content. Updated 25 August, - dhwty. Read Later Print. The Sinagua Montezuma Castle, however, was not at all related to the Aztecs. References Buscher, L. United States of America. Login or Register in order to comment.
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