Near Pleasant View in Montezuma County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Common Ground
Lowry Pueblo National Historic Landmark
| | Canyons of the Ancients National Monument | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2025
1. Common Ground Marker
Great Kiva activities helped to define the community and to develop a sense of social identity and, perhaps, of organized community religion. People who lived near Great Kivas may have organized seasonal events and maintained the Great Kivas for regional use.
I wouldn't be surprised if those societies that we have down in the Rio Grande were actually developed in Great Kivas [like Lowry]. The kinds of things that required large numbers of people and for organization everything from living and retreats and dance practices. Sometimes someone stayed for a long period of time like when the training of the boys was happening.
Tito Naranjo, Santa Clara Pueblo
Great Kivas could have been used for many things because kivas aren't used only for certain things. Maybe for special meeting places, important meeting places, or general meetings. And then it could be used for practicing dances. When a whole village takes part in a dance, they need a bigger place.
Esther Martinez, San Juan Pueblo
More than a dozen Great Kivas are found in southwest Colorado; many more exist in the greater Four Corners area.
Other Great Kivas to visit today:
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl, and Casa Rinconada
Aztec Ruins National Monument
(reconstructed inthe 1930s)
Click or scan to see
this page online
Sand Canyon Pueblo (unexcavated)
(directions available at the Anasazi Heritage Center)
Edge of the Cedars State Park
Salmon Ruins
Erected by U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.
Location. 37° 35.059′ N, 108° 55.159′ W. Marker is near Pleasant View, Colorado, in Montezuma County. It can be reached from County Road 7.25 0.3 miles south of County Road CC. The marker and the Great Kiva are located on the Lowry Pueblo National Historic Landmark interpretive trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pleasant View CO 81331, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West, in Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Great Kiva (a few steps from this marker); Life Outside (within shouting distance of this marker); The Best Rooms in Town (within shouting distance of this marker); Construction, Expansion & Remodeling (within shouting distance of this marker); Painted Kivas (within shouting distance of this marker); Lowry Ruin (within shouting distance of this marker);
2. Marker detail: Four Corners Area Site Map
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Lowry Pueblo National Historic Landmark
Also see . . . Great Kivas (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Great kivas differ from regular kivas, which archeologists call Chaco-style kivas, in several ways; first and foremost, great kivas are always much larger and deeper than Chaco-style kivas. Whereas the walls of great kivas always extend above the surrounding landscape, the walls of Chaco-style kivas do not, but are instead flush with the surrounding landscape. Chaco-style kivas are often found incorporated into the central room blocks of great houses, but great kivas are always separate from core structures. Great kivas almost always have a bench that encircles the inner space, but this feature is not found in Chaco-style kivas. Great kivas also tend to include floor vaults, which might have served as foot drums for ceremonial dancers. Great kivas are believed to be the first public buildings constructed in the Mesa Verde(Submitted on September 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)region.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 20253. Common Ground MarkerLooking north across the Great Kiva.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2025
4. The Great Kiva
Looking west across the Great Kiva. This historical marker is visible on the far left.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on September 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
