For years it has been assumed that tower kivas were observation points,
using their high vantage to relay communications across the landscape, or
acting as defensive outposts among the local population. Few of these
enigmatic structures have been excavated, and archaeologists have
consequently turned to landscape survey methods to understand their role and
function. Here, the authors contrast visibility and intervisibility within
the surrounding viewshed of two tower kivas, Kin Ya'a and Haystack,
providing an alternative perspective to traditional interpretations by
suggesting that rather than acting as lookout points, they were instead
central places built to be looked upon by the surrounding community.