Mesa Verde - Balcony House

Another well preserved cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde, Balcony House. Named for the house in the background of this picture, with the balcony half way up the wall.

This complex was one of the few that was clearly geared towards defense; access is very difficult and it is not visible from above.

The photo below shows a Kiva, a large subterranean pithouse, designed for communal and ceremonial use. These would have had a wooden roof, and you would have accessed these by climbing down a ladder in the centre of the roof.

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