How Old Are They?
Reading edition
Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot are both older than anyone living today. Since the Sinagua Indians left no written records, these buildings are considered prehistoric (before recorded history).
After finishing this page you will learn how many years ago people were living here and how long ago they left. These monuments have been studied by archeologists (ar-key-ALL-o-jists). An archeologist is a person who studies past people and their ways of life by looking at artifacts (AR-te-fakts). Artifacts are things that have been left behind.
The Sinagua Indians, who lived here, left behind pottery, jewelry and tools. The artifacts found here were compared to those found in other monuments. By comparing them, archeologists were able to figure out when people lived in these buildings.
Look in the park brochure and read the signs along the trail to find the dates you need. Fill in the dates below and subtract.
A) When did Sinagua Indians first live in these buildings?
Today’s Year
Earliest Year Buildings Used
years ago
B) When did the Sinagua Indians leave these buildings?
Today’s Year
Latest Year Buildings Used
years ago
C) How long did the Sinagua Indians live in these buildings?
Answer from A
Answer from B
years