File:The top of the continent; the story of a cheerful journey through our national parks (1917) (14804742253).jpg

Identifier: topofcontinentst00yard (find matches)
Title: The top of the continent; the story of a cheerful journey through our national parks
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Yard, Robert Sterling, 1861-1945
Subjects: National parks and reserves
Publisher: New York, Chicago (etc.) C. Scribner's sons
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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Cliff Dwellers. There are many cliffdwellings in the southwestern part of the United States,but none so highly developed as those in the MesaVerde. That is why it was made a national park. But, Uncle Tom, said Jack after a minute ex-amination of the wonderful community dwelling knownas Cliff Palace, where did these people go ? Why didthey leave this nice home? No one knows, Jack, said Uncle Tom. Theymay have lived here for hundreds of years. Theyknew how to build well, as you see. They made goodpottery and decorated their pots and plates with beau-tiful designs in rare colors. They fished in the riverand raised corn on the mesas, which they cleared andirrigated. They hunted deer and other game. Theybecame much more civilized than the Indians wholived in the east or, in fact, in any other part of theUnited States. Then, about six hundred years ago,they just disappeared. Suddenly? asked Jack. No one knows that, either, said Uncle Tom.But probably so, because the last great building they
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Photograph by George L. Beam Cliff Palace from across the canyon Showing the overhanging cliff which protected the community from attack from above 60 THE TOP OF THE CONTINENT put up was left unfinished. That building was SunTemple. We shall see that to-morrow. **Maybe, said Margaret, those painted men whoscared poor Maia and her dolly killed them. Perhaps, said Uncle Tom. It is one of thetheories about their disappearance that they were at-tacked by Indians from the plains and either destroyedor driven away. Oh, I hope, said Margaret, that it wasnt whileMaia was still alive. It is all a great mystery, said Uncle Tom. After exploring Spruce Tree House, Balcony House,and several other ruins, the Jeffersons visited SunTemple, just across a deep canyon from Cliff Palace.This great temple was never finished. They all wereespecially interested in a fossil palm-leaf, in a rock em-bedded in the foundations. Many thousands of years ago, said Uncle Tom,all this southwest country was very hot,

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