Johann Hunt
America is dotted with remarkable sites that reflect the ingenuity of Native American architecture. Let’s take a closer look at 15 awe-inspiring locations with these ancient structures, their role in history, and how you can visit them. These places defy the stereotype of primitive design.
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Carved into the cliffs of Colorado’s Mesa Verde, this sprawling cliff dwelling built by the Ancestral Puebloans stands as the largest of its kind in North America. With over 150 rooms and 23 chambers, it’s currently a part of Mesa Verde National Park that offers guided tours for everyone.
Sugarloaf Mound, Missouri
Once part of a complex of mounds, Sugarloaf Mound is the last standing remnant of what was once a much larger Native American earthwork. The other mounds were destroyed to make way for a railway, but Sugarloaf remains as a historical marker, accessible via the Mounds Heritage Trail.
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
Taos Pueblo dates back over 1,000 years and continues to be a thriving community of multi-storied adobe buildings. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s a living museum where visitors can witness traditional building techniques firsthand. The reddish-brown walls, built from earth, straw, and water, stand as a proud symbol of Puebloan culture.
Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico
Perched 367 feet above the surrounding area, Acoma Pueblo is among the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the US. The pueblo’s adobe structures, carefully built to withstand the harsh mesa-top environment, tell the stories of a timeless approach to architecture.
Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
The Chaco Culture National Historical Park allows for the study and exploration of Ancestral Puebloan culture. It holds the Chaco Canyon, which was home to huge public and ceremonial buildings. The “great houses” here, built with precise stone masonry, are thought to have served as both administrative and religious hubs.
Cahokia Mounds, Illinois
The site is a State Historic Site and a UNESCO World Heritage location that offers insights into ancient rituals and burial practices. Cahokia used to be a major urban hub around 1050 CE, home to over 80 mounds. The Monks Mound, the largest of these, is the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas.
Serpent Mound, Ohio
Stretching over 1,300 feet, the Serpent Mound is a mysterious effigy mound that winds like a snake through the earth. Currently, it’s a public park managed by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. The exact purpose is still uncertain, yet it’s believed to have been used in ceremonial or cultural events.
Hovenweep Towers, Colorado And Utah
The Hovenweep Towers, perched on canyon rims and boulders, are multi-storied stone structures that speak to the adaptability of the Ancestral Puebloans. These towers are preserved within the Hovenweep National Monument. Their role still remains debated, with some speculating they served as storage facilities, while others believe they were used for defense.
Casa Grande Ruins, Arizona
Built by the Hohokam people around 1350 CE, Casa Grande is among the largest prehistoric structures in North America. The four-story adobe building remains a mystery, with theories ranging from it being an astronomical observatory to a community center. It’s now part of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Ocmulgee Earth Lodge, Georgia
Found within the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, the Earth Lodge is a reconstructed ceremonial space dating back to 1015 CE. This site reflects the Mississippian culture’s social dynamics, with a central fire pit and seating arrangements that underscore communal values.
Kincaid Mounds, Illinois
Home to multiple mounds built by the Mississippians between 1050 and 1400 CE, Kincaid Mounds features one of the largest mounds, which may have served as a temple or chief’s residence. Today, Kincaid Mounds is an archaeological site that offers a glimpse into the advanced society of the time.
Bandelier Cave Dwellings, New Mexico
The Ancestral Puebloans carved their homes into the cliffs of Frijoles Canyon, creating “cavates.” These are cave rooms often fronted by masonry. Bandelier National Monument preserves this unique site, where visitors can hike and explore the ancient dwellings.
Poverty Point, Louisiana
Poverty Point dates back to 1700 BCE. The place has earthen mounds and ridges that form a semi-elliptical pattern. The area suggests it was a ceremonial and trading structure of the time. The site’s uncanny but interesting layout carved its name among the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2014.
Effigy Mounds, Iowa
This National Monument preserves over 200 prehistoric mounds, including 31 animal-shaped ones. Built by the Woodland culture between 600 and 1300 CE, the mounds may have had celebratory or territorial purposes. The site is open to everyone, offering a unique opportunity to explore these ancient earthworks.
Taovaya Village Site, Texas
Today, the Taovaya Village stands as a tribute to the tribe’s resourcefulness. The Taovaya tribe inhabited this site in the 18th century, where they built dome-shaped grass houses. These structures paint a picture of the people’s adaptation to the Plains environment and its role as a significant trading and political area.