Hovenweep National Monument preserves six groups of Ancestral Puebloan villages built between 500 and 1300 CE. The area was first used by hunter-gatherers as early as 8000 BCE. By the 13th century, the inhabitants had constructed sophisticated multi-story stone buildings—like Hovenweep Castle and Square Tower—along canyon rims, often near springs.
These structures, built without leveling the terrain, show remarkable engineering and alignment with solar events. The people farmed maize, beans, and squash, managed water with reservoirs and dams, and used local materials for tools, clothing, and baskets.
Due to drought and overpopulation, the region was largely abandoned by 1350. The descendants likely joined Puebloan groups further south1.
