When white settlers arrived in the Camp Verde area to establish farms, they discovered the remains of ancient cultures. Spread generously across the valley floor, surrounding hills, and the occasional cliff face, were stone pueblos in various states of ruin. The sight of these buildings and associated artifacts amazed and perplexed the newcomers, and ultimately lured a number of military and government-funded scientists to the valley to try and solve the riddle of who had left such and indelible mark on the landscape.
Over the subsequent decades, archaeologists have worked to unravel the story of at least two different cultures. The Hohokam culture came first, presumably from the south, followed by the Sinagua, presumably from the north. By all indications the two cultures thrived here for about 1,200 to 1,500 years before disappearing around 1425 AD for reasons still not fully understood.
Three cultural sites–Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well and Tuzigoot–are now National Monuments, protected and interpreted by the National Park Service.
Three other sites, the petroglyph walls at V Bar V Heritage Site and the cliff houses of Honanki and Wapatki, are protected and interpreted by the United States Forest Service. But hundreds of major and minor sites lay about the landscape, unprotected, across the vast majority in the Camp Verde area.
Please remember that these public archaeological treasures are protected by federal law. Do not remove artifacts or deface these sites in any way.
Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month
March is Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. The Verde Valley Archaeology Center is hosting a series of free events at the Camp Verde Community Library for Arizona Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness month. Here are the events:- March 5th: Apaches and their Horses
- March 7th: Film: Secrets of the Nolichucky River
- March 12th: A New View on the Ancient Sinagua: Analysis of the Dyck Cliff Dwelling Collection
- March 14th: Films: Impact of the Frolic and Chartres: Light Reborn
- March 19th: Studying and Interpreting Montezuma Castle’s Architecture
- March 21st: Films: Torn and A Walk Through Time
- March 26th: Dating the Construction and Use of the Montezuma Castle
- March 28th: Film: Stone Age Cinema and Q&A
Verde Valley Archaeology Center
Right on main street, Camp Verde is lucky to have the Verde Valley Archaeology Center. Their mission is “to preserve archaeological sites and collections, to curate collections locally and to make them available for research and education; to develop partnerships with American Indians, cultural groups and the communities it serves; and to foster a deeper understanding of prehistory and American Indian history in the Verde Valley through the science of archaeology.” Visit their website for more information about their organization, how to become a member and find things to do in the area.

National Monument Tours
There are several tour options to visit the National Monuments in the Verde Valley with the Verde Valley Archaeology Research Institute
Archaeological Conservancy Tours
Tours to two of the Archaeological sites in the Verde Valley and Sedona area with experienced guides rom Verde Valley Archaeology Research Institute.


Learn about Archaeology in the Verde Valley
The Verde Valley Archaeology Institute offers classes to memebrs of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center.