Page 34 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

30 ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL SIGHTS 6 MORE ROCKCARVED SITES TO RIVAL PETRA

Sandstone houses, Mesa Verde National Park, US
Rock Dwellings Inside one of the cliff dwellings at Gila National Monument, USA
Gila Cliff
of Mesa Verde Lycian tombs in the cliffs above the Dalyan river, Turkey
Lycian Rock-Cut Dwellings

Tombs, Kaunos
NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION The rock dwellings NEED TO KNOW
(and park headquarters) lie $ "/"%" LOCATION The Gila cliff
30 miles (48 km) from Cortez NEED TO KNOW dwellings lie 44 miles (71 km)
in southwest Colorado $ "/"%"
north of Silver City in south-
DATE OF .&4" 7&3%& /FX :PSL LOCATION At the ancient western New Mexico, USA
CONSTRUCTION /"5*0/"- 1"3, site of Kaunos, beside the DATE OF
13th century 8BTIJOHUPO % $ Dalyan river, on Turkey’s #MBDL 4FB CONSTRUCTION 6 4 " /FX :PSL
-PT "OHFMFT southwestern coast
DAYTIME 6 4 " *TUBOCVM 13th and 14th centuries -PT "OHFMFT 8BTIJOHUPO % $
TEMPERATURES DATE OF "OLBSB DAYTIME (*-" /"5*0/"-
Jan: 25°F (-4°C); Apr: 45°F (7°C); (VMG PG CONSTRUCTION TEMPERATURES .0/6.&/5
Jul: 71°F (22°C); Oct: 50°F (10°C) .&9*$0 .FYJDP 4th century BC *[NJS 563,& : Jan: 42°F (6°C); Apr: 58°F (14°C);
DAYTIME ,"6/04 "EBOB Jul: 78°F (26°C); Oct: 61°F (16°C) .&9*$0 (VMG PG
.FYJDP
TEMPERATURES *3"2
Jan: 48°F (9°C); Apr: 61°F (16°C); 4:3*"
The well-preserved cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde Jul: 82°F (28°C); Oct: 70°F (21°C) .FEJUFSSBOFBO
4FB
National Park provide a precious and fascinating In the heart of the Gila wilderness of New Mexico
insight into the life and times of the “lost civilization” is Gila National Monument, established in 1907 to
of the Ancient Puebloans (formerly known as the Ancient Kaunos was founded in the 9th century BC preserve dozens of ancient cliff dwellings. The
“Anasazi”), ancestors of modern-day Native by the Carians, who inhabited the Caria region of homes, which were built into caves in a narrow
American peoples in the Southwest. The park and Anatolia. The city later formed part of the Kingdom canyon, shed some light on the mysterious
its natural cliff alcoves were inhabited from as of Lycia, which stretched between the bays of Mogollon people, whose distinct and important
early as AD 500, but it is thought that the 600 cliff Antalya and Fethiye in modern-day Turkey. Native-American culture was endemic to
homes here were not built until the 13th century. Famous for their form of government, which was southwestern New Mexico, western Texas,
Though these remarkable stone villages must the first example of democratic federalism in the southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico. More
have been a mighty building project for the world, the Lycians are today also known for the than 103 historic buildings are located here,
community, they were inhabited for less than 100 dozen or so distinctive and beautiful tombs they including an enormous dwelling with around 200
years. The people and rock dwellings of Mesa carved into the cliffs at Kaunos as part of their rooms. Other monolithic buildings to explore at
Verde remain shrouded in mystery. ancient tradition of ancestral worship. the site include rock shelters and pit houses.

Practical Information Practical Information Practical Information
Getting There and Around Cortez is linked to the rest of the US by air and Getting There and Around Dalyan, the closest town to the ruins, lies Getting There and Around There is no public transportation to the ruins.
road. The area also offers car-rental companies, taxis, and intercity bus services. 16 miles (25 km) from Dalaman’s international airport, and can be reached The nearest major airports are Albuquerque, El Paso, Tucson, and Phoenix, all
When to Go June and September are probably the best months to visit. by taxi. The ruins are accessible either by foot or by boat from Dalyan. of which are around 4 to 6 hours’ drive away. Car rental is also available.
July and August can be hot and stormy, and snow storms can occur from When to Go Spring (Apr–May) and fall (Sep–Oct) are the most pleasant When to Go Spring (Apr–May) and fall (Sep–Oct) are the most pleasant
as early as October to as late as May. times to visit, weather-wise. times to visit, weather-wise.
Website www.nps.gov/archive/meve Website www.lycianturkey.com/lycian_tombs.htm Website www.nps.gov/gicl

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