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Gila Cliff Dwellings National MonumentCave Art
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Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
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Plants

Cliff Dwelling Vigas  

Did You Know?
The stone axes made it challenging for the Mogollon to cut down trees for vigas (roof beams) in the Gila Cliff Dwellings. So, before chopping the tree trunks, they would burn a small fire around the base of the trunk to weaken it so their axes could cut it down more easily.

Last Updated: March 26, 2007 at 09:20 EST