Tonto National Monument, Contain­ Single Tree-Ring Date of A

TON TO The Cliff Dwellings In addition to cultivated foods, the Ornaments were made of turquoise The mesquite, paloverde, Mohave- On both sides of the Roosevelt Lake Indians gathered mesquite beans, cactus and several varieties of shells. The shells thorn, catclaw or acacia, and jojoba Basin are many long canyons leading up fruits, and many wild nuts and berries. are from the Gulf of California, hun­ predominate to make the brushy desert TONTO into the mountains. Near the tops of Undoubtedly they hunted wild game for dreds of miles to the southwest, indicat­ chaparral cover. Many of the plants are some of the canyon walls are cliffs in a meat supply, as deer bones have been ing the distance over which objects were labeled for identification. You may ob­ NATIONAL MONUMENT which shallow caves are located. The found in the cliff dwellings. Rabbits and carried by trade even at that time. tain further information on plant life and Fourteenth-century cliff dtuellings of the Arizona Salado Tribe, who cliff dwelling seen from the Tonto park­ other small animals, as well as birds, A small but excellent and represent­ archeology from the monument staff. were among the finest craftsmen of the prehistoric Pueblo Indians ing area is located in a natural cave in were also available. ative collection of prehistoric Salado Photography Stone hoes, and possibly wooden dig­ tools, utensils, and weapons is on display Tonto National Monument, contain­ single tree-ring date of A. D. 1346 is the quartzite cliff. A good trail, a half- The cliff dwelling faces nearly east ging tools, were used in the farming. in the museum at the parking area. ing about 2 square miles of picturesque recorded from the Tonto ruin. mile long, with a rise of 350 feet, leads and is fully lighted in the morning, espe­ The roof beams of the dwellings were desert hill and canyon country, was es­ Before occupying the cliff dwellings, to the ruin. cially from about 8 to 10 a. m. By noon, cut with stone axes, and the ax marks Desert Plants tablished by Presidential proclamation This cliff dwelling is a pueblo of the face of the cliff is in full shadow. the Salado Indians lived in the valley still may be seen on beams in place in in 1907 to protect the outstanding cliff rough masonry walls, with adobe clay Although Tonto National Monument Photography in the cave is possible dur­ proper, where the remains of many of one remaining original roof. An incom­ dwellings here. The southern Arizona used as mortar and plaster, and native is primarily an archeological area, it has ing daylight hours, but exterior shots their houses are still visible. The cliff plete bow with a yucca fiber string and group of Pueblo Indians, builders of rock as a filler. The walls were laid up a variety of desert plants which are inter­ are best in the morning. dwellings appear to have been built as a bundle of reed arrows with pointed cliff dwellings in this area, were not too in courses 2 to 3 feet in height. When esting. The Upper and Lower Sonoran defensive sites when the valley villages wooden tips were found with a burial in The Monument different from the present day Hopi and these walls were built up about 6 feet Life Zones are represented by several became the object of attack by enemies. 1950. A number of stone arrowheads Tonto National Monument was trans­ Zuni. They have been named Salado high a ceiling of juniper or pinyon poles species of cactuses and by the desert Eventually, around A. D. 1400, the have also been found. ferred to the National Park Service in (Spanish for salty) because they lived was laid across the room, one end resting chaparral cover. Barrel, hedgehog, fish­ Salado people left the region, probably 1933 from the Department of Agricul­ near the Salt River. on the wall, the other on a center beam hook, and several kinds of cholla cac­ because of continued trouble at the Manufactures ture. The cliff dwellings were occupied dur­ supported by an upright post. A substan­ tuses are abundant, some of which bloom hands of their enemies. Identification of The Salado people were excellent pot­ ing the 1300's, a period determined by tial layer of saguaro ribs was laid across during April and May. The saguaro, or How To Reach the Monument tery makers and weavers of cotton tex­ comparison of pottery and other remains these enemies is not certain, but they may the poles, and this was covered with a giant cactus, most spectacular in this If driving from Phoenix, take U. S. 89 tiles. Their painted pottery of red, cream, with material from other sites accurately possibly have been ancestors of the 3- or 4-inch layer of adobe. A similar area, usually blooms in May or early in to Mesa, then U. S. 60-70 to Apache and black shows a high degree of appre­ dated by annual growth rings in timbers Yavapai Indians, who now live north roof on the second-story rooms fur­ June. Junction, where you turn left on State ciation of design and form. Undecorated used in construction of the buildings. A and west of the Tonto Basin. nished good deck space which was well- lighted and ventilated. pottery was also made for storage and Visitors in Tonto cliff dwelling View from cliff dwelling across Roosevelt Lake to the Sierra Ancha When complete, this dwelling had cooking purposes, some of the storage about 25 rooms. vessels having a capacity of as much as 60 gallons. Dow the Salados Lived Cotton textiles were made in a variety The nearest dependable water was of weaves and color combinations. Em­ probably a seep or spring a half mile up broidery, open work, diamond twills, the main canyon from the dwelling. The and gauze weaves were among the types farmlands were located in the Salt River made, and dyed threads of blue, brown, flood plain 2 to 4 miles distant and at black, red, and yellow were used to cre­ about 1,000 feet lower elevation. Water, ate complex designs. A considerable firewood, harvested crops, and wild amount of good quality cloth of plain game secured by hunting, all had to be weave was made for everyday use. A carried up the trail to the cliff house. specimen of this is the one used as a Crops of maize, beans, squash, and cot­ wrapping on the child burial found in ton were raised by irrigation. Until the 1950, which is now on display in the valley was flooded by construction of museum. Roosevelt Dam, the old irrigation canals Sandals and mats were woven of built and used by occupants of the Tonto yucca fibers; the yucca leaf was also cliff dwellings and other nearby prehis­ shredded and spun into strong cordage. toric villages could still be traced. Beargrass was used for mats. TONTO

Utensils and implements used by prehistoric inhabitants

Route 88, the Apache Trail, to Roose­ facilities are available at Roosevelt. velt. The monument visitor center is A self-guiding trail leads from the just 3 miles beyond. Average driving parking area to Tonto ruin. Near the time: 4 hours. From Globe, take State parking lot is the short, self-guiding Route 88 to the monument entrance, Cactus Patch Trail. which is 28 miles away. Average driv­ ing time: 50 minutes. Administration Tonto National Monument is admin­ Visitor Use Fee istered by the National Park Service, A nominal fee is charged for admis­ U. S. Department of the Interior. A sion to the ruins. All National Park superintendent, whose address is Roose­ and Monument fees are deposited as velt, Ariz., is in immediate charge. revenue in the U. S. Treasury; they off­ set, in part, appropriations made for Mission 66 operating the National Park System. Mission 66 is a program designed to be completed in 1966 which will assure Season and Facilities the maximum protection of the scenic, The monument is open all year, with scientific, wilderness, and historic re­ the most comfortable weather between sources of the National Park System late October and the first of June. in such ways and by such means as Picnic facilities are available in the will make them available for the use monument, but no camping is per­ and enjoyment of present and future ''UA^QK^; MOM UJ$E^;f mitted. Food, lodging, and camping generations. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE i "; AK & ' I' ."** "Oi "N A The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16—52125~8 Reprint 1962