Painted Desert

Referred to by the Spanish as “el Desierto Pintura,” the Painted Desert has dazzled visitors for thousands of years. With its multicolored bluffs, mesas, and petrified forests, the Painted Desert offers a kaleidoscope of ever-shifting shapes and colors. This natural wonder encompasses over 93,000 acres of Arizona lands. Archeologists have found evidence that people have lived in this region for nearly 10,000 years. The climate was cooler during the period immediately following the last ice age, and the region’s habitat included large mammals such as bison. Over time, however, average temperatures increased, transforming the area into a more arid and desert environment. Even with the climate change, the Painted Desert has remained the home of many Native peoples over the centuries. Petroglyphs and artifacts such as pottery and flint spear points provide clues to their lifestyles and culture. The Pueblo peoples particularly were known for their expertise in farming and weaving and they traded these goods extensively with neighboring tribes.

From the game's History encyclopedia, AoE3: DE 100.19.18309.