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Adventure vacations in Arizona! Information and brochures from Arizona's best resorts and attractions. September 06, 2010 |
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Updated 01/07/10
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This is only a small sampling of just a few of Arizona's many prehistoric sites. Many native cultures lived and flourished in the desert southwest, these societies traveled and traded and created hundreds of villages and camps. Some of the ruins found at these sites may be visited only with a qualified guide and reservations may be necessary. The visitor is cautioned that disturbance of any archaeological site or the removal of any artifact is prohibited by the U.S. Antiquities Act. Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park - Globe This huge pueblo is located at the Pinal Creek overlook. Site of prehistoric Salado culture, 1255 - 1400. Over 300 rooms housed an estimated 1400 people at it's peak. The Salado Village served primarily as a trading center. Salado people also farmed. The great drought during the 15th century is believed to be the reason for abandonment of the pueblo. The Village name means "place of metal". Reconstruction of the dwellings and artifacts provide great insights into the Salado lifestyle. Betatakin - Navajo National Monument Cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Puebloans in the south facing sandstone cave. Inhabited from 1250 - 1300 by as many as 125 people. Dates for the site have been established by radio carbon dating and by tree ring analysis of the house timbers. The name means ledge house in the Navajo language. Canyon de Chelly - Canyon de Chelly National Monument Ruins of pueblos built by prehistoric Pueblo people at the base of overhanging canyon walls and on high ledges. The site encompasses several hundred villages built from 350 - 1300. Structures evolved from individual circular pithouses to connected apartment style houses. The structures are rectangular houses of stone masonry called pueblos. Early inhabitants farmed and made baskets, later inhabitants made pottery as well. Ancestral stronghold of the Navajo people. The canyon name is a Spanish corruption of the Navajo word Tsegi, meaning Rock Canyon. White house ruin is the only accessible site without a guide, all other travel in the canyon must be with a guide or park ranger only. Casa Grande Ruins - Casa Grande National Monument Ruins of a prehistoric agricultural village inhabited by Hohokam people, 900 -1450. 60 sites of once widespread civilization. The site is Dominated by the 4 story adobe structure thought to have been used either as a ceremonial building or for astronomical observations. The dwellings single room houses made with mud and brush. The distintive buff colored pottery with red paint designs have become identified with the Hohokam people. This culture built major irrigation systems with over 600 miles of canals, they grew corn beans squash and cotton. Casa Malpais - Springerville 13th century Indian ruins inhabited by the Mogollon people. The site overlooks the Little Colorado River Valley. Occupied for about 200 years and abandoned abut 1400 for as yet unknown reasons. The pueblo name means house of the badlands. Ongoing excavation and research includes a museum and field laboratory. Tours and lectures are available. Gila Pueblo - Globe This pueblo was occupied by the Salado people, 1225 - 1400. Main complex contains over 200 rooms. First excavated in the 1920's and 30's and is partially restored. Homolovi Ruins - Homolovi Ruins State Park Site of a village with six pueblos inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans, from 1250 - 1600. One of the last stopping places during migrations. Structures may have housed several thousand people. Broken pottery scattered throughout the site, many Rock Art artifacts. There are more than 300 archaeological sites throughout the park. Keep Seel - Navajo National Monument One of the largest and best preserved cliff dwellings inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans, from 950 - 1300. As many as 150 people lived in 160 rooms. The room design and construction differs from nearby Betatakin . The nave means broken pieces of pottery in the Navajo language. Access is by an arduous eight mile trail and you must have a permit to gain access. Kinishba Ruins - 17 miles SE of Carrizo This is the site of prihistoric ruins built by the Mogollon people, from 1232 - 1320. The village was abandoned around 1350, due possibly to drought. One of two large pueblos remains, containing over 400 rooms. This is one of the larges prehistoric settlements of this culture in Arizona. Little Bear Archaeological Site X Diamond & MLY Ranch Located within scenic South Fork canyon P.O. Box 791 Springerville, Arizona 85938 Phone: (928) 333-2286 Email: info@xdiamondranch.com While you are at the X Diamond Ranch, why not participate in one of the many opportunities available for hands-on fun! You don't need anything more than an interest in learning to enjoy the excitement of our Archaeological programs; everything from a tour of a thousand year old prehistoric settlement to day-excavation and even a one week field school! Here's a chance to learn the way the professionals do it! All materials and both laboratory and field techniques are the same as those used in Universities throughout the Southwest. We provide all necessary equipment for your enjoyment. Our large ruin site lies adjacent to the South Fork of the Little Colorado River, right on the ranch property among the foothills of the White Mountains and contains many rooms with different masonry styles. The construction of the site as well as the types of pottery found clearly indicate that the ancient people that built it occupied the area during the three hundred year period between 800-1100 AD. Montezuma Castle - Montezuma Castle National Monument Well preserved multi-storied cliff dwelling built and inhabited by Sinagua People in the early 12th century. The pueblo is located in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Named by early settlers who thought the origins to be Aztec. Remains of their irrigation system, other ruins and burial sites are nearby. Pipe Spring National Monument A little known gem of the National Park System, is rich with American Indian, early explorer and Mormon pioneer history. Pueblo Grande - Phoenix Ruins of a thriving prehistoric village inhabited by the Hohokam people. The name comes from the Pima Indian word for old "ones". The village was first inhabited 2000 years ago. The large community included homes, storage rooms, outside cooking and activity areas, cemeteries, platform mound and ball couts. Several hundred miles of irrigation canals fed fields of corn, beans, squash cotton and tobacco. Primary location of around 20 villages in the Phoenix area. the Pueblo was deserted around 1450 for as yet unknown reasons. Puerco Ruin - Petrified Forest National Park The 100 room stone and masonry pueblo was occupied by Puerco people from 1200 - 1350. At it's height it housed about 75 people. Tours are available and the site has been partially excavated and restored. Salado Villages - Tonto National Monument The site comprises three 14th century villages built in natural rock shelters or alcoves by the Salado people. Inhabited until the early 15th century when the Tonto basin was abandoned for unknown reasons. The half mile, self guided trail highlights the masonry structures of the 19 room lower ruins. The 40 room upper ruins may be visited only on ranger guided tours, reservations are required. Tuzigoot - Tuzigoot National Monument Visit an excavated and partially restored ruins built by the Sinagua people, 1125 - 1400. The site contains two story structure with 77 ground level rooms. There are very few doors, entry was made with ladders through the roof. At it's peak as many as 200 villagers lived there including refugee farmers escaping the drought. Walnut Canyon - Walnut Canyon National Monument Cliff dwellings inhabited by the Sinagua people from 1120 - 1250. More than 300 rooms built in sheltered overhangs in the canyon's limestone walls. Clustered sites indicate communities that were inhabited by related family groups. A paved but somewhat steep trail leads to 25 cliff dwellings, more than 100 dwellings can be viewed form the trail. Wupatki - 26 miles NE of Flagstaff Dwellings inhabited by the Sinagua and Ancestral Puebloan during the 12th and 13th centuries. The multi-storied pueblo has more than 100 rooms and was built entirely with blocks of local sandstone. Amphitheater and masonry ball court. Named from the Hopi Indian word that means "tall House". Development of the area was greatly influenced by the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano about 20 miles to the South West in about 1064 . Enjoy the self guided trails and the visitors center. |
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