Aztec Ruins

United States · New Mexico

SettlementUnknownUNESCO · 1987
Approximate period1,110 CE — 1,300 CEAncestral Pueblo; approximate main period of settlement See on the map ↓

In brief

Aztec Ruins is a large settlement established by Ancestral Pueblo communities in the Animas Valley. Excavations of the West Ruin uncovered dwellings, ceremonial rooms, and everyday objects; the site is a component of the Chaco Culture World Heritage property.

What was found?

  • 1West Great House

    It is a large building complex with numerous interconnected rooms and a central plaza. Its layout shows that the settlement was established according to a comprehensive design.

  • 2Great Kiva

    It is a spacious area used for community ceremonies. The example reconstructed after excavation makes it possible to understand the arrangement of the communal ceremonial space.

  • 3Original wooden roof beams

    Original wooden beams have been preserved in the great house. The transport of some tree species used in the building from distant mountains shows that material procurement was organized.

  • 4Fiber sandals

    Sandals made from plant fibers are among the everyday objects found in excavations. They provide direct evidence of clothing and fiber-working skills.

  • 5Turquoise and shell jewelry

    Jewelry made from turquoise and seashells was found during excavations. These preserve material traces of personal adornment alongside clothing.

What does it point to?

The settlement reflects the planned construction practices and communal ceremonial life of Ancestral Pueblo peoples. According to researchers, it may also have served as a center for trade, ceremonies, and administration.

What did it teach us?

  1. Showed that the settlement was founded by Ancestral Pueblo peoples and that its name associating it with the Aztecs was a later misnomer.
  2. Documented that timber from distant sources was procured for the construction of large buildings.
  3. Revealed the influence of Chaco culture on architecture, ceramics, and ceremonial traditions.

Images

West Ruin at Aztec Ruins National Monument in 1970s (e4b9c28c-d587-41b1-b517-8735c8cb7e0e)
NPS staff · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Interior Great Kiva Aztec Ruins 1
Wvbailey at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aztec Ruins October 2022 panorama
King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Ancestral Pueblo
First modern dig
1916
Coordinates
36.8340°, -108.0030°

Sources

  1. nps.gov
  2. home.nps.gov
  3. nps.gov
  4. whc.unesco.org

Nearby excavations


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12.000

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