Mesa Verde in Montezuma County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Pithouse Life

Mesa Verde National Park

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008

1. Pithouse Life Marker

Inscription. There is an enormous gap between identifying pithouse features—the hollows and scattered stones—and visualizing the inhabitants’ daily lives. Set in the four corner post holes, timbers supported a ceiling that was probably head-high. Above the firepit there was probably a smoke hole, which also may have been the pithouse entrance. Some features are more revealing.

Grinding Corn
The grinding stone and slab - mano and metate - symbolize the Anasazi's new ties to the mesa top. Grinding corn into cornmeal was a constant chore. Dried or parched corn could be stored in pottery vessels for years in the dry, Southwest climate. The stored corn enabled the Anasazi to survive the long, cold winters.

Erected by National Park Service-United States Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Landmarks • Native Americans.

Location. 37° 9.792′ N, 108° 29.082′ W. Marker is in Mesa Verde, Colorado, in Montezuma County. Marker is on Mesa Top Loop. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mesa Verde National Park CO 81330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fire Temple (approx. 0.3 miles away); Oak Tree House

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); Time of Transition (approx. 0.4 miles away); Canyon Barriers (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cliff Dwelling Life (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ties that Bind (approx. half a mile away); Years of Activity (approx. half a mile away); Years of Change (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mesa Verde.

Scorched Pithouse-Roof Rubble and Storage Pit image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008

2. Scorched Pithouse-Roof Rubble and Storage Pit

Pithouse-First Permanent Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008

3. Pithouse-First Permanent Home

Pithouse Ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008

4. Pithouse Ruins

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008

5. Pithouse Ruins

Pithouse A.D. 600-sign at entrance to parking area image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008

6. Pithouse A.D. 600-sign at entrance to parking area

Sign at the entrance to the park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008

7. Sign at the entrance to the park

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 813 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 10, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.