One reason the Puebloans might have moved their homes from the mesas to alcoves in the cliffs is for better protection against enemies or harsh weather conditions. Living in alcoves provided natural defense and shelter, making their settlements more secure.
The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, built adobe-style homes into the sides of cliffs in the southwestern United States, particularly in regions such as Mesa Verde in Colorado and Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. These dwellings are known as cliff dwellings and were built between approximately 1200 and 1300 AD.
Aztec houses were typically made of adobe bricks with thatched roofs. They were rectangular in shape and often had one or two rooms. The houses were often clustered together in small neighborhoods in Aztec cities.
After the Ice Age, humans began to settle down in permanent homes. These homes were primarily made from materials such as wood, animal bones, and stones. The exact construction and design of these homes varied depending on the region and the resources available. However, common examples include pit dwellings, earth-sheltered homes, and huts made from wood or animal skins.
Homes during the Stone Age were typically made of natural materials like wood, stone, and animal hides, and were smaller in size compared to modern homes. They were more basic in design and lacked amenities like plumbing, electricity, and heating systems. Today, homes are typically larger, more complex in design, and equipped with modern conveniences for comfort and functionality.
Roman housing consisted of a variety of building types, ranging from simple apartments to luxurious villas. Common features included atriums, courtyards, and multilevel dwellings to accommodate different social classes. Wealthier Romans had larger homes with amenities like central heating systems and private baths.
Ancestral Puebloans. Some people are still using the termAnasazi, which actually means "ancient enemies". Contemporary Puebloans prefer that term not be used.
The Anasazi
The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, built adobe-style homes into the sides of cliffs in the southwestern United States, particularly in regions such as Mesa Verde in Colorado and Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. These dwellings are known as cliff dwellings and were built between approximately 1200 and 1300 AD.
Anasazi
Mesa Verde is home to some of the most unique Ancestral Puebloan dwellings in the world. Well-preserved and well-studied, these dwellings have been inspiring interest in this ancient culture for more than 100 years. Tucked securely into cliff walls, the adobe-constructed homes are a novel sight to visitors who crane their necks skyward to see them. Ladders give guided groups access to the cliff dwellings, and informative park rangers offer educated glimpses into the daily lives of Ancestral Puebloans.
Because they built homes in the cliffs.
The land has more rocks than wood and some was in caves
The Nez Perce Indians did not create cities out of sandstone cliffs. The Pueblo Indians used sandstone cliffs. The Nex Perce built homes by digging into the ground and then building a frame.
The Anasazi. See Mea Verde for more information.
Aztec houses were typically made of adobe bricks with thatched roofs. They were rectangular in shape and often had one or two rooms. The houses were often clustered together in small neighborhoods in Aztec cities.
A kangaroo doesn't make a home, but live and sleep out in the open-air.
Most pueblo Indians did not live in "cave dwellings". Most "villages" (the Spanish name for village or town is Pueblo) were multi room, sometimes multi story structures constructed of stacked masonry or jacal. Most of these structures were built primarily on the mesa tops or the canyon floor, However, most sites that have been best preserved were those built in alcoves in the canyon walls. These are the most preserved for the same reason they were built in these alcoves, protection from the weather. Because these well preserved sites were the most attention grabbing, the Anasazi are sometimes referred to as "Cliff Dwellers" even though only about 10% of their sites were actually on the cliffs. At Bandelier in New Mexico, and at other locations, the early pueblo people built structure that extended away from the vertical cliffs of soft volcanic tuff. They imbedded horizontal logs into the relatively soft cliff face for the roofs of the structures. They would also either carve rooms out of the volcanic tuff or use naturally eroded rooms behind the structures they built. See the History & Culture section of the Bandelier National Monument website for photos of this construction method.