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| Fire Temple House is located near many large cliffhouses visible from the Cliff Palace Loop Road. This view shows how the builders used natural layers in the sandstone to construct the split-level dwelling and ceremonial center. Note the line of holes on the cliff edge between the two ruins on the upper ledge. These footholds lead to a ladder that connected the two levels. Also note the dark streaks of desert varnish on the cliffs. The desert varnish forms from manganese oxide, iron minerals and organic residues where water from the mesa top streams down and evaporates on the cliff face. The thick and well developed desert varnish shows how slowly erosion proceeds on the actual cliff face. Fresh surfaces without desert varnish reveal areas where the cliff may have more recently collapsed after being undercut by erosion. |
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