Petroglyph National Monument

Visited: April 2024

Nearby city: Albuquerque, NM

Just a few miles away from downtown Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, is a volcanic escarpment. Among these boulders and cliff walls, you can see over 24,000 petroglyphs etched by the Ancestral Pueblans and also early Spanish settlers.

This national monument, established in 1990, protects over 7,000 acres and is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the City of Albuquerque. The monument has four separate and distinct units: 1) Piedras Marcadas Canyon; 2) Boca Negra Canyon; 3) Rinconada Canyon; and 4) Volcanoes. 

We only had time to visit one unit and make a quick stop at the visitor's center. If you only have time to visit one unit, I would recommend going to the Boca Negra Canyon. It has the shortest hike and contains the most petroglyphs. There are petroglyphs in the canyon that are nearly 3,000 years old. 

Petroglyphs are rock carvings (as opposed to rock paintings which are called pictographs) 

Petroglyphs are made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammerstone. As the surface is chipped, the lighter rock underneath is exposed, creating the petroglyphs. The petroglyphs held cultural and spiritual significance to the Ancestral Pueblans.

there are petroglyphs all over the boulders along the trail in the Boca Negra area. 

the butte in Boca Negra overlooks a residential neighborhood in Albuquerque

This petroglyph depicts Kokopelli, a fertility deity. Kokopelli was also a trickster god and represents the spirit of music.

 Petroglyph National Monument is worth a visit if in the Albuquerque area. 

More info: https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Visited: April 2024

Nearby town: Farmington, NM

Located in the northwestern corner of New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park protects and preserves an amazing complex of Ancrestral Pueblan ruins. 

This site, situated in Chaco Canyon, is one of the most important pre-Columbian historical areas in the United States. It was occupied between 900 and 1150 AD. Fifteen major complexes are located here. They were made from sandstone blocks and timber hauled from a long distance. When they were built, they were the largest buildings in North America until the 1800s.

This NPS unit is very remote. Consult the website to get directions. The recommended way to visit is to approach from the north. Farmington is the closest major city. About 3 miles east of the small village of Nageezi, turn off the US highway to County Road 7900. Follow the signs. The road is paved for about 5 miles, but the remaining 16 miles are unpaved and might be impassable during inclement weather.

We arrived early in the morning, and had the ruins mostly to ourselves. The first stop was Hungo Pavi. Hungo Pavi was a great house that served as a public building with small resident populations. The complex also hosted pilgrims who came to Chaco Canyon to attend religious ceremonies, trading events, and public gatherings. At its greatest extent, Hungo Pavi had 72 rooms, and some structures reached four stories in height.

these outer walls were very impressive

Next up is the largest complex in the canyon, Pueblo Bonito. It's covers almost 2 acres and has 650 rooms. Here you will find the Great Kiva. Kivas are large circular rooms (usually below the ground level) that were used for spiritual ceremonies, places of worship, and political meetings. They were of great significance in Ancestral Pueblan life and culture. Along with the Great Kiva, there are over 30 kivas in Pueblo Bonito. Nearby to Pueblo Bonito is the Chetro Ketl complex. 

Chetro Ketl complex

The Great Kiva. 

Kivas were usually covered with logs, brush, and earth to form a flat roof flush with the ground surface. 

When I was a child, I wanted to be an archaeologist when I grew up.

I wouldn't have made a very good one, I would have had to crawl through lots of ancient passageways (the ancients made them so small) 😁 I barely fit in these things. 😀

Upon discovery, archaeologists placed these large beams to help prop up the outer walls

petroglyphs on the cliff walls

Tara at the doorway 

the Great Kiva

We then took a relatively short hike up to the butte for a great view overlooking Pueblo Bonito and the canyon. The trail passes by more ruins, the Pueblo del Arroyo and the Kin Kletso ("Yellow House"). It's about a mile-hike to the overlook. 

it's a bit of a scramble up and down the butte...just take it slow, its not too bad.

Pueblo del Arroyo ruins

overlook at Pueblo Bonito complex. It has a distinct crescent shape.

Kin Kletso ruins

this prominent peak on the right is Fajada Butte (6,623 ft)

Fajada Butte

Kin Kletso

Kin Kletso. This medium-sized complex had 55 rooms.

hike up through this crevice to get to the top of the butte

The great houses in Chaco Canyon were abandoned in approximately 1200 AD. It is not entirely known why the Ancestral Pueblans left this area, but it was likely due to a period of sustained drought.

This site was one of the coolest historical sites we have been to. Well worth a visit.

For more info: https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm