Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, outside of Silver City, is an archaeological site in southwestern New Mexico, in the Gila National Forest. The name Gila is derived from the Yuma Indian term hahquahssael, meaning “salty water running.” The monument lies in rugged country about 30 miles north of Silver City. It contains groups of dwellings built of stone masonry in natural cavities of an overhanging cliff 150 feet high. The dwellings were inhabited from about ad 1280 to the early 14th century by peoples of the Mogollon culture.