Ladle House is a prehistoric site which was occupied at least three times by Anasazi farming families. Two of these occupations were during the Early Anasazi period (between A.D. 650 - 750) and one was during the Late Anasazi period (approximately A.D. 1000).
During these two periods of occupation, the Anasazi people built and lived in small but sturdy dwellings made of stone, wood and earth. These dwellings were composed of a set of above-ground rooms and a single below-ground room. (The archaeological term for these below-ground rooms is pithouse for the Early Anasazi period and kiva for the Late Anasazi period.)
Artist's reconstruction of nearby Hanson Pueblo, a Late Anasazi home. Drawing by Nancy Lamm
Each of these families lived within a larger community composed of other farming families. It is estimated that several dozen other households were living in the area during the times that Ladle House was occupied.