Part 8/11:
Ultimately, the residents migrated to regions with more reliable water sources—moving south and east into areas occupied by the ancestors of modern Hopi, Zuni, and other Pueblo communities. By 1300, Meso Mesa Verde’s grand cliff dwelling complexes stood deserted, silent witnesses to a civilization reshaped by environmental forces.
Rediscovery and Preservation
The ruins of Cliff Palace lay hidden for centuries until their accidental rediscovery in December 1888. Two cowboys, Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law Charles Mason, stumbled upon the site during a winter cattle drive, marveling at the formidable stone formations across the canyon.