Mesa Verde in Montezuma County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Pithouse Life
Mesa Verde National Park

By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008
1. Pithouse Life Marker
Inscription. Pithouse Life. Mesa Verde National Park. 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. . This historical marker was erected by National Park Service-United States Department of the Interior. It is in Mesa Verde in Montezuma County Colorado
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 
By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008
2. Scorched Pithouse-Roof Rubble and Storage Pit
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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 (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.

By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008
3. Pithouse-First Permanent Home

By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008
4. Pithouse Ruins

By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008
5. Pithouse Ruins

By Don Morfe, September 4, 2008
6. Pithouse A.D. 600-sign at entrance to parking area

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 547 times since then and 2 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.