Part 2/11:
Radiocarbon dating of wooden beams within Cliff Palace indicates that most construction took place between 1190 and 1260 AD, with ongoing modifications over several decades. Unlike a singular construction event, each generation of Pueblo ancestors expanded and refined the complex, transforming it into a sprawling community.
Situated within a natural alcove midway up the canyon wall, the location was a strategic choice—offering both defense and shelter. Archaeologists believe that by the late 12th century, the ancestral Puebloans had responded to environmental stressors—such as droughts and resource scarcity—by relocating settlements to more defensible, resource-rich sites.