Everyone knows Montezuma Castle as Arizona’s ancient cliff dwelling. Yet, new analysis has experts rethinking its most basic story.

Montezuma Castle is a cliff dwelling set about 90 feet up a limestone cliff in central Arizona, not far from Interstate 17. The structure, which stands five stories and contains roughly 20 rooms, was built with limestone blocks and mud mortar more than 800 years ago. There is no door at ground level and no stairs, and the dark windows face a creek below.The site is one of the best-preserved cliff…