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Hovenweep National Monument

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25 miles west of Cortez via Montezuma County G (McElmo Canyon Rd.)

Hovenweep (Ute for deserted valley) consists of widely scattered Anasazi structures in Colorado and Utah, including square, round, and oval masonry towers and one D-shaped one built near springs. These smooth masonry structures are reminiscent of medieval European fortifications, but openings in the Hovenweep towers may have been for astronomical observation rather than for defensive purposes. Designated a national monument in 1923, Hovenweep has a visitors' center (in Utah, 16 miles east of Hatch) and five major sites.

Writing Credits

Author: 
Thomas J. Noel
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Data

What's Nearby

Hovenweep National Monument

Citation

Thomas J. Noel, "Hovenweep National Monument", [Montezuma Creek, Utah], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CO-01-MT08.

Print Source

Buildings of Colorado, Thomas J. Noel. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, 596-596.

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