Echoes of the Ancients: 3 of Our Favorite Native American Ruins in the American Southwest

Embark on a journey through the captivating Montezuma Castle, Aztec Ruins, and Sears Kay, three iconic Native American ruins showcasing rich cultural heritage and architectural marvels in the American Southwest.
Montezuma Castle and Well, located in Camp Verde, Arizona, are remarkable archaeological sites that showcase the ingenuity of the Sinagua people who inhabited the region around 700 years ago. The "castle" is a five-story limestone cliff dwelling, built into a natural alcove high above the ground. Despite its name, it has no direct connection to the Aztec emperor Montezuma; rather, it was named by early European settlers who mistakenly believed it was associated with the Aztecs. The well, situated nearby, is a unique and sophisticated irrigation system that supplied water to the community, showcasing the Sinagua's advanced engineering skills.
Moving to the Aztec Ruins National Monument in Aztec, New Mexico, this site provides insight into the Puebloan culture during the 11th to 13th centuries. The highlight is the Great Kiva, a massive ceremonial structure that once played a central role in communal gatherings. The Aztec Ruins, though not directly related to the Aztec civilization of Mexico, were named by 19th-century explorers who mistakenly believed they had discovered Aztec artifacts in the area. The site provides a glimpse into the cultural and architectural achievements of the ancestral Puebloan people, showcasing their intricate masonry and well-planned community layouts.
The Sears Kay Ruin, located near Cave Creek in the Tonto National Forest, is an archaeological site that offers a fascinating glimpse into the pre-Columbian history of the region. Named after the lands of the Sears-Kay Ranch, founded by J.M. Sears in 1887, this ancient Native American settlement belonged to the Hohokam culture. The ruins consist of room blocks, revealing the architectural and societal organization of the Hohokam people. The site is not only historically significant but also surrounded by the natural beauty of the Tonto National Forest, providing a unique opportunity for visitors to explore both the archaeological remains and the picturesque landscape.
▬▬ R E L A T E D V I D E O S ▬▬
⚪ • MONTEZUMA WELL & MONTE...
⚪ • AZTEC RUINS National M...
⚪ • Exploring the Enigmati...
▬▬ T I M E S T A M P S ▬▬
00:00 Montezuma Castle & Montezuma Well
05:23 Aztec Ruins National Monument
09:29 Sears Kay Ruin
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
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Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!

[@susanasalinas4273]

Love these ruins. Tonto Forest is amazing. Montezuma's Castle is awesome. Love this area. So much to see n so much to learn. Thanks for this adventure. Hi Amy. (I always learn something, n my eyes get filled with the scenery).

[@CactusAtlas]

There's so many lesser known areas out there as well. We keep hoping to see some of them but it might take some bushwhacking. 😅

[@cjshaw551]

I love Aztec ruins national monument! I was so excited to watch this video and it didn’t disappoint. I went there a few years ago with my daughter and son-in-law, my grandson and granddaughter. We all had a wonderful time there and explored almost every inch of that place. I especially love how it was right next to the Animas River. It was so incredibly peaceful there and we were just about the only people that were visiting on that particular day. Anyway, thank you again. I really enjoy these videos.

[@CactusAtlas]

That is awesome! Love those moments when you get a whole place nearly to yourself! And thank you! So happy you're enjoying our videos. 😊

[@Lynne76]

WOW!!! absolutely incredible, I love the dwellings, very well made for the time and very impressive, The Aztec ruins are breathtaking, The views are beautiful, I've learnt alot from thus video an thoroughly enjoyed watching this, Thank you. 😊

[@CactusAtlas]

That kiva at Aztec Ruins is one of our favorites. Having seen kivas all over (especially at Chaco Canyon) it's kind of hard to really get an idea of purpose or to think they were used for other purposes. Once you see that reconstruction, it all becomes so real.

[@gstiles7]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Not to be a homer, but Montezuma's Castle is #1 in my book! The giant rooms in other places are impressive, but to build in the cliff walls is next level!! Looking forward to the next trip.

[@CactusAtlas]

They certainly kept in shape building up on a cliff for sure! 😅

[@SwiftyTravels]

I love the comparison between the different ruins and cultures. A great list- I still have yet to visit Montezuma!! We are always in such a hurry when we go there!

[@CactusAtlas]

There's a lot of interesting crossover between them. One has to wonder. Hope you're able to squeeze in Montezuma one of these days. 👍

[@joywyse6996]

I visited Montezuma's Castle a long time ago. Looking forward to when I get moved back to AZ doing more educating myself of the history. Very interesting. Thanks.

[@CactusAtlas]

I can't even imagine how long that list is getting of things to see. 😅

[@cmc5394oparva]

It's really incredible how widespread these different ruins are throughout the southwest and especially the Four Corners area. I watch some KZbinrs that go WAY off the beaten path in areas like Bears Ears, for example, to visit structures that are in the most seemingly inaccessible places. It really makes you wonder what the climate and water availability was like at the time that people felt comfortable enough to build permanent structures in these spots, even if only temporarily. Or if it was done for the purposes of protection, given how difficult it is to even get to some of them.

[@CactusAtlas]

That's always something that makes me wish I could go back in time and find out the answer. It really does make you wonder.

[@nationalparksprincess3216]

Wonderful spots! I enjoyed the footage and history! I haven't been to any of these yet. I would love to also make it to Chaco Canyon 😊

[@CactusAtlas]

Chaco is amazing and so very worth visiting. The scale of everything is just stunning.

[@madhistory]

awesome!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lukewagner1556]

Thanks so much for this video! Super informative! I’ll be heading to Wupatki National Monument right outside of Flagstaff in just a little over a week! Have you had a chance to visit that location before? If so, any tips/recommendations? Thanks for your videos! Love your channel!

[@CactusAtlas]

Ooooh. It's been a good while since we visited Wupatki. I'm honestly having problems even remembering it as it was a spur of the moment thing if I recall correctly. Arg. I wish I had tips to give. I'm so sorry! I know you'll enjoy it though. 😄👍

[@user-df8zq5nx8l]

Gotta wonder why it was sooooo important. Understand about the planting but why is it important if the moon lines up with a certain wall.

[@richardbeee]

Cool! Now i know where our street designes came from. The sun. Who would have thought? East street runs east and west and lines up with the sun. North and south? North star. They weren't that primitive. Either that or we still are.😂😊