Central Arizona is known for its sweeping mesas, rugged canyons, and a history that stretches back thousands of years. But for drone explorer Jesse, it’s the ground-level secrets—hidden caves, ancient pottery shards, and mysterious stone ruins—that make this land unforgettable. On his latest adventure, Jesse set out to unravel the stories carved into the cliffs and whispered through local legend, including the age-old question: What drove ancient peoples to build their homes high above the valleys, and could legends of giants really have roots in reality?

The Journey Begins: Pottery Shards and Caveates

Armed with a new DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera and a drone, Jesse returned to a favorite mesa, drawn by Google Earth images of stacked stones and ruins perched at the summit. The hike was steep, the Arizona sun relentless, but the ground was littered with clues—hundreds of pottery shards, some smooth, some rough, all hinting at a civilization long gone.

Why so many shards? Some hikers speculate they’re simply the result of centuries of clumsy explorers, but Jesse’s research uncovered a more poetic theory: when ancient residents moved on, they intentionally broke their pottery, returning it to the earth as a form of ritual closure. Others suggest that later visitors, vandals, or even natural forces played a role. The truth may be a mix of all three.

Into the Caves: History Carved by Hand

Jesse’s main targets were the caveates—man-made dwellings dug into the cliffs by the Sinagua people, who settled the Verde Valley around 650 CE. Unlike natural caves or cliff dwellings built in alcoves, caveates are excavated spaces, a term coined by explorer John Wesley Powell.

Each caveate tells a story. Blackened ceilings mark the places where fires once burned to keep ancient families warm. Grinding holes hint at corn pounding and food preparation. Some rooms are so low that even Jesse, at 5’11”, had to crouch—suggesting the Sinagua may have been smaller and leaner, living off crops and foraged foods more than protein-rich diets.

The caves aren’t just homes—they’re a testament to survival, ingenuity, and adaptation. From the cool shelter they provide to the panoramic views of the valley below, it’s easy to imagine why someone might choose to live here.

Climbing Higher: Defensive Ruins and Strategic Views

After a grueling climb—complete with a water run to the nearest convenience store—Jesse reached the top of the mesa, where the ruins awaited. Unlike the caveates, these structures were partially dug into the ground and surrounded by carefully stacked stones, reminiscent of childhood snow forts but built for far more serious purposes.

Why build so high? Archaeologists have speculated for decades. Interpretive signs near Phoenix suggest that, around AD 1050, the Hohokam and other cultures began constructing defensive forts for unknown reasons. The Sinagua and Salado peoples followed similar patterns, moving from river valleys to cliffside dwellings and mesa-top fortresses. Was it for protection from floods, climate, or something more sinister?

Legends of Giants: Fact, Folklore, or Both?

Here’s where the adventure takes a turn into legend. Jesse shares a story passed down by Native American tribes of the Southwest: tales of red-haired giants, towering eight to ten feet tall, who preyed on local villagers. According to Paiute oral history, these giants were eventually trapped and killed in Lovelock Cave, Nevada—a story chronicled by Sarah Winnemucca in her book “Life Among the Paiutes.”

Early 20th-century newspaper clippings add fuel to the fire. In 1911, the Arizona Republican reported that rancher Peter Marx discovered “monstrous” skeletons near Prescott, Arizona, with skulls so large they dwarfed modern human heads. Another article described similar finds near Sycamore Creek, just miles from Jesse’s mesa. While these reports are intriguing, Jesse is careful to note that verifying their authenticity is an ongoing process and encourages readers to approach such claims with healthy skepticism.

Connecting the Dots: Why Did Ancient Peoples Move Up?

What’s clear is that multiple cultures across Arizona—Sinagua, Hohokam, Salado—abandoned fertile valleys for the safety of cliffs, canyons, and mesas. Archaeologists offer practical explanations: defensive positioning, climate adaptation, and protection from floods or wildlife. But the recurring legends of giants, combined with the strategic placement of stone walls and hidden caveates, leave room for speculation.

Jesse’s own hypothesis is that these defensive structures and elevated dwellings may have been a direct response to threats—whether from rival tribes, environmental changes, or, as some stories suggest, something much larger. He invites viewers to share their own theories and encourages respectful dialogue about the intersection of archaeology and folklore.

The Adventure Continues

As the sun set behind the Arizona mountains, Jesse wrapped up his exploration, promising to return for a deeper dive into the ruins and caves that remain untouched. He left pottery shards where he found them, respecting the ancient traditions and the mysteries still buried in the cliffs.

For those inspired to explore, Jesse recommends hiking the mesas, visiting national monuments like Montezuma’s Castle and Tuzigoot, and always treading lightly—both physically and historically. Whether you’re chasing drone footage, searching for petroglyphs, or pondering the legends of giants, Arizona’s ancient landscape offers endless stories waiting to be uncovered.