Tuzigoot, which is Apache for "crooked water," is the remnant of a Sinaguan village built between 1,125 and 1,400. It crowns the summit of a long ridge that rises 120 feet over the Verde Valley. The original pueblo was two stories high in places and had 77 ground-floor rooms. There were few exterior doors; entry was by way of ladders through openings in the roofs. The village began as a small cluster of rooms that were inhabited by about 50 persons for a hundred years. In the 1,200s the population doubled and doubled again as refugee farmers, fleeing drought in outlying areas, settled here.
The Sinagua of the Verde Valley were peaceful village dwellers. They lived principally by farming, but supplemented their staple crops by hunting and gathering. Fine artisans, the Sinagua made stone tools of the usual variety: axes, knives, hammers, and manos and metates for grinding corm. Though not adept at the craft of pottery (probably due to the poor soil conditions), the Sinagua turned bone into awls and needles, wove handsome garments of cotton, and fashioned ornaments out of shells, turquoise, and a local red stone for personal decoration.
The photo above was taken from Old Town Cottonwood, behind and above from the Cottonwood Hotel. CLICK HERE to go directly to the National Park Offical webSite and the Tuzigoot page. To get a brochure of the Tuzigoot CLICK HERE
NOTE: The Tuzigoot National Monument is well worth a visit. It is one of few Indian ruins that you can actually walk into and get a feel to how the Sinagua Indians actully lived. Don't overlook this one!
Tuzigoot National Monument - Jan. 2011
Tuzigoot National Monument -Jan. 2011
The above Tuzigoot pictures are taken from above the historic Cottonwood Hotel in Old Town Cottonwood, Arizona. CLICK on the pictures to get a larger view.
Tuzigoot Project Photo Identification
Below are two photos of the crews that worked on the Tuzigoot Project in 1933. If anyone can identify any of the people in the photos that are not identified, please contact Anne Worthington (park guide) or myself at karen@cottonwoodhotel.com
CLICK On Picture for Larger View
CLICK on Picture to For Larger View
Hi Karen: Here are the two photos we discussed at the Tuzigoot opening. There are some more people to add to the names...when I get a chance I will take care of it . Your hotel is an asset to the community. Thank you for refurbishing and reopening. Best, Anne Worthington park guide
COTTONWOOD HOTEL, circa 1917 930 N. Main St. Cottonwood, AZ, 86326, United States Phone: (928) 634-9455 Map/DirectionsContact Us
