More than a thousand years ago, Ancestral Pueblo people lived here in southern Utah. They were farmers, and they built villages, hunted local game, and gathered nuts, berries, and native plants. Archaeologists have long studied these people and their culture, and you can get a glimpse of it at the Anasazi State Park Museum. Take a look:
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You’ll find the Anasazi State Park Museum in the little town of Boulder. Step back in time to the year 1050, when Ancestral Pueblo People (aka Anasazi) lived here.
Check out the Coombs Site Ruins, where the dwellings of these fascinating people have been uncovered. The majority of the excavations were made by the University of Utah in 1958 and 1959, with a few smaller-scale excavations in 1971 and 1991.
The work of archaeologists uncovered 97 rooms and 10 pit houses that provide clues about how the Anasazi lived. Hundreds of thousands of artifacts, from tools and weapons to pots and other household items were also discovered.
While you’re exploring the grounds of this state park, check out the replica pit building. You can descend the ladder to see what it’s like in this underground structure.
Inside the museum, you’ll find tons of interactive displays that will tell you more about these ancient people. Though it seems that they had plentiful food and an advanced society, life was still not easy. The average adult had a life span of less than 35 years.
The museum also has a replica building with even more information. Use your imagination a little, and you can envision a society that disappeared around 1175 A.D. The museum is open seven days a week, year-round. Check its website for seasonal hours.
Learn more about the Anasazi State Park Museum on its website. Have you visited this intriguing place? We’d love to hear about your adventure in the comments!
