Hello, archaeologists and explorers, and welcome to the amazing Mesa Verde National Park! Established here in southwestern Colorado way back in 1906, Mesa Verde was the first national park dedicated to preserving the works of people you could truly call Native Americans.

Spanish for "Green Table", the archeological sites at Mesa Verde are rated among some of the best preserved in the world. You can come check out what life was like for the Pueblo people who lived in the carved-out caves 700 years ago, long before such luxuries as running water, indoor plumbing, and DirectTV.

So here the beans are, 8,500 feet up in the air, checking out the park. It's a 10 mile jaunt from here to where all the action is, so the beans didn't have time to waste. Besides, under normal circumstances, the beans would be concerned about being at this altitude and having to hike 10 miles to see the ruins, but since they're safely sealed up in their pressure-controlled can, it's no sweat.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes, the beans did put their hands on the glass. Sorry, but they couldn't help themselves.

At last! After hiking for what seemed like forever, the beans are thrilled to make it to the ruins of the stone village. You see, from about 600 A.D. to 1300 A.D. (long before even the bean's time...), people lived in communities throughout the area, where they built some mighty elaborate stone villages in the alcoves of the canyon walls. (How can you tell that it's old? There's no Starbucks...)

So somewhere around year 1300, the locals packed their bags and moved out of their cliff dwellings. Where'd they go? The beans aren't sure, but they suspect that after their 700th cold Colorado winter, the locals hightailed it out of there for a little California sun.

Anyway, the beans had a fantastic time checking out the Mesa Verde area, and are thankful that the ruins have preserved for all to see. Besides, there's a little bit of archeologist adventurer in the beans - you should see them with their "Indiana Jones" bullwhip...