History Of Sedona

Sedona is a historical town. The place has an interesting history. The famous red rock formations for which the area is famous have been purportedly in the making for a few millennia. In fact, the geological history of the area goes back to some 500 million years ago when the place was an ocean bed and a coast in parts. Slowly with the tectonic shifts, the Colorado Plateau uplifted and the sedimentary layers of sandstone were formed. Since the elements- wind, rain and snow have eroded to expose the layers of sediment to form the spectacular and one of its kind red rock formations, for which the place is famous worldwide.

The earliest human records in the history of Sedona are some 6000 years ago when the first native Indians- Hopi settled in the area. Some of those pre-historic cave dwellings still exist today. The early settlers perfected a dry-farming technique and were able to successfully grow corn, beans and squash in a low rainfall region. Some of the ruins built by various early tribes such as Sinagua, Anasazi and the Hohokam can be seen as a proof to this early settlement.

Although there is clear evidence of who existed in Sedona up to 6000 years, there is no clear record of civilization before that. There are archeological evidences like artifacts and petroglyphs to show the signs of civilization but there is no clarity about their origin and tribe. The possibility is that different tribes and community settled in the land of Sedona at different points of time. The most common belief of the Historians is that the first inhabitants came to Sedona from ancient Asia through North America. They crossed the sea and reached Sedona through North America.



The early or the first settlers in the history of Sedona are known as Sinagua and Anasazi. They are the ones who came to Sedona from Asia. After Anasazis vacated the region, Hohokam came to settle here during 500AD to 700AD. It was the Hohokams who introduced irrigation, farming and built canals that exist even today.

After 200 years later, another tribe known as Sinagua came to dwell in Sedona. They came from Spain and specialized in dry farming. Evidence shows that this tribe was involved in trading with natives and South America. Sinagua tribe had to flee because of a volcanic eruption in 1060 AD. The eruption was so severe that it created the present Sunset Crater. Another belief says that Sinagua tribe temporarily fled not because of the volcano but because of the arrival of some war-like tribe in the region.

Whatever may be the cause of their fleeing, the Sinaguas returned to the valley only to find the soil more fertile due to the volcanic ashes. In the mean time Anasazis also returned and taught the Sinaguas to build multi0storied dwellings for defense. Montezuma Castle and Palatki Ruins are great examples of this.

With Sinaguas staying in multi storied dwellings, making pottery, jewelry, baskets, and practicing farming, they became the first modern civilization in the area.

The present day Sedona was first discovered by Europeans in 1583. The Europeans in search of Indian spices reached Sedona by mistake. They found Bell Pepper there and confused it with the actual pepper. Thinking that this is India they started calling the natives of Sedona as Indians. Gradually Sedona became modern and by 1920, as many as 20 families were staying in the place. The first post office was opened in Sedona by Theodore Schenlbly and named after his wife Sedona.

This was the history of Sedona, a great tourist location that offers spectacular views and great spiritual experiences.

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