|Mogollon Rim behind Schnebly Hill|
The Mogollon Rim surrounds Sedona, protecting it from extreme heat, cold and adverse weather conditions. The Rim is the southernmost section of the Colorado Plateau, once part of the Grand Canyon. It provides a perfect, protected place to live whether you're human, plant or animal, even in 10,000 BC.
|Petroglyph from V-Bar-V Ranch|
Artifacts trace human existence in the Sedona area up to 8,000 BC, then nothing for almost 7,000 years. Mysteriously, not a trace of human activity in the Sedona area from 8,000 BC to 200 BC. Much like the Hopi legend of the first true Sedona settlers, the Sinagua Indians: they vanished.
Archaeological data suggests the Sinagua, Hopi and Anasazi tribes are related. They share similar spiritual, agricultural and physical traits. It's unclear which tribe came first. The Hopi believe the Sinagua were first, other tribes believe the Anasazi were. Disagreements exist everywhere in society no matter what century, but when it comes to legends, most members of various tribes do agree with this one.
Sinagua villages &
Legend says they learned to use the energies in these Red Rocks and transformed out of their bodies. They still live here; we simply can't see them anymore. They're vibrating at a higher rate.
Another part of the legend believes several Sinagua Shaman hover and protect parts of Sedona, seen as ravens floating across the sky or skimming the edges of vortex sites, using Sedona's energies to help fulfill "anglos" wish-lists - wish lists of those who travel here for spiritual awakening, emotional release, physical healing or just to relax.
The Sinagua were the only tribe to successfully live in Sedona, where other tribes failed. Interestingly, you will not find many natives living in Sedona today. They live around the area, but not in it. Some say the energies are too intense and Anglos are crazy for living here - it will melt our brains! Maybe they're right?
|Sedona Schnebly - |
Because Sedona's main water source, Oak Creek, was much higher and wider when the Sinagua lived here, they had plenty of water for crops, livestock and themselves. They created genius irrigation and pulley systems found at Palatki Ruins, Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle.
The Sinagua tribe spread across the entire Verde Valley area: Sedona, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Tuzigoot, Camp Verde, Beaver Creek, Montezuma Castle & near Montezuma Well. Spanning almost 180 square miles, larger than the current Yavapai-Apache Nation reservation in Verde Valley now.
For almost 400 years, they thrived - building sturdy cliff dwellings, farming the land, making pottery, trading with other tribes, carving & painting on rocks. They even survived several violent volcanic eruptions from Sunset Crater (near Flagstaff). Then suddenly around 1425 AD, they vanished. No trace, no footprints, no tracks leading out of town. Other tribes tried to "track" them - they came up dry. (Source: US National Parks System (nps.org) - Montezuma Castle)
|Tuzigoot National Monument|
Sinagua's Largest Community
If you ever visit Sedona, take a trip to the area's Cliff Dwellings, petroglyphs and pictographs. Maybe the spirits of the Sinagua Shaman will speak to you, revealing the truth behind their mystery. Best sites are Tuzigoot, Montezuma Castle and Palatki Ruins.
You'll find many conflicting stories and legends in Sedona. Wherever diverse cultures converge and merge (Native Indian, Scientists, Hollywood, NASA, New Agers, Ranchers, white collar & blue collar), conflicting views will exist. That's also part of Sedona's magic.