Long House [Suggest Edits]

Description

Long House is the second largest cliff dwelling located in the park, second only to Cliff Palace. While it is slightly smaller than Cliff Palace, this tour offers much more exploration with visitors being able to climb ladders into the heart of the dwelling and see several original walls and the seep spring in the back of the alcove, which is usually filled with healthy plants, standing water, and is much cooler than the front of the alcove. The tour groups are generally smaller, especially early and late in the season, so the experience is much more personal than tours available on Chapin Mesa.

Long House, as we see it today, was built and occupied from approximately A.D. 1225-1280/1300. There was one earlier occupation during the Basketmaker III time period ~A.D. 600-725. Long House is also home to one of the few plaza kivas in the entire park: a great kiva layout was recreated on an open plaza with no surrounding walls, suggesting some ceremonial events were more inclusive at this site than others. It is not completely known why people left at the end of the 13th Century, but a combination of drought, increasing violence, and a cultural shift may have all contributed to the ultimate abandonment.

Short Run: Visitors can only access the site through a ranger-led tour. Tickets for the tour are required and can be purchased at several locations around the park. For more information, visit the park's website.

Gem Type: Prehistoric Site