Echoes in the Canyons

The Sierra Ancha is a rugged mountain range in east-central Arizona. Emil Haury first documented the cliff dwellings there more than 70 years ago, and wood from the cliff dwellings was important in demonstrating the utility of tree-ring dating in areas other than the Colorado Plateau. Most of the cliff dwellings were occupied from ca. AD 1280 to 1330, and the majority of prehistoric settlement in the southeastern Sierra Ancha also dates to this period. This volume describes the Sierra Ancha Project, begun in 1981, which focuses on the southeastern Sierra Ancha and documents more than 20 cliff dwellings. It discusses the environmental setting and factors for locating the cliff dwellings where they are. It summarizes architectural features and presents detailed maps of the cliff dwellings. A new rock-art style present in the caverns is described for the first time. Finally, the settlements in the southeastern Sierra Ancha are discussed within the context of this dynamic region lying between the Tonto Basin, Mogollon Rim, and Grasshopper regions.