The Dyck Cliff Dwelling, that provided a home for up to 20 people, is located about 15 feet up from the banks of Wet Beaver Creek, southeast of Sedona. It was occupied from about 1050 to 1325 CE and was discovered untouched for 700 years.

The cliff dwelling is located just upstream from Montezuma Castle and was occupied during the same period as the early settlement of Montezuma Castle. The inhabitants of the two locations likely interacted with one another.

Unlike so many other cliff dwellings in the Verde Valley that were completely robbed of their archaeological materials by pot hunters seeking treasures, the amazing collection of artifacts and ancient food remains from the Dyck Cliff Dwelling provides a rare window into the ancient past.

The archaeological deposits proved to be so extensive that excavations were conducted between 1962 and 1972 by the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles. The entire cliff dwelling was excavated, retrieving over 50,000 artifacts, including a remarkable collection of perishable materials. The excavation and analysis of the Dyck Cliff Dwelling has provided a window into the lives of the ancient people who lived in Central Arizona in the late 11th to early 14th centuries. This simple cliff dwelling yielded a remarkable amount of information that substantially advances our understanding of these people. The preservation and quantity of botanical remains, wooden artifacts, and textiles from the cliff dwelling is exceptional and their analyses have and will continue to provide new data on the lifestyles and belief systems of the Sinagua.

Ken Zoll, coauthor of Ancient Verde Valley Family Life, will provide a look into the lives of these people, showing the interior of the cliff dwelling and show many of the unique archaeological artifacts. Ken will also discuss recent studies conducted by Harvard University, University of Nebraska (Lincoln) and the Smithsonian Institution.