Exploring Aztec Ruins…But not those Aztecs


Today we explored another set of ruins, these ones much older than the Pecos ruins from 2 days ago.  Before I go any further, I have to make one thing clear.  These structures were not built by the Aztec Indians of Central Mexico.  When the first white men arrived in this area and saw these structures, they immediately thought that they were built by Aztecs.  As a result, they mistakenly called it Aztec which has stuck until this day. 

From the late 1000’s to the late 1200’s, ancestral Pueblo people built this settlement.  It consisted of great houses, small residential pueblos, earthworks, and great kivas.  The placement and orientation (one wall of the settlement was perfectly lined up with the summer and winter solstice) suggest that the initial builders carefully planned the community and that succeeding generations kept to the plan.  Remarkable when you think about it!

The ruins are much more intact than the Pecos Pueblo site was despite being much older.  600 to 800 years and these buildings survived most things that had been thrown at them until first settlers removed material to build their buildings and then even worse in the late 1800’s when rooms that had stayed intact for centuries were looted by guess who…the civilized white man!  The Pecos Pueblo people built with mud; the Aztec Pueblo people were masters of masonry.  The West Ruin in its time was 3 stories high with walls in excess of 25 feet.  It had over 500 rooms.  The East Ruin has never been excavated.  It is believed, however, that it was even bigger.

Like the Pecos Pueblo people, the Aztec Pueblo people abandoned what they had built after 200 plus years.  Archaeologists and Historians are unsure why they picked up and left such a large established community.  This one cannot be blamed on the white man or the church.  We were not here yet!

After leaving behind the Aztec Ruins we traveled to Four Corners National Monument.  We stood in 4 States at the same time.  New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado all come together at this geographical point.  It is the only place that this happens in the United States.  It was kind of surreal to be able to do this.

We are set up in Cortez KOA.  We are in Colorado and are staring up at ‘majestic snow-capped mountains’.  Tomorrow we are going to explore Mesa Verde National Park.

Distance Traveled = 235 km.  Wildlife Sightings = Rabbit, Brewers Blackbird, Bullocks Oriole, Osprey, Canada Geese, Turkey Vulture, Cedar Waxwing.


Aztec Ruins - Kiva (underground ceremonial room and 500 room west ruins behind)


Aztec Ruins - part of the 3 storey living quarters


Shiprock - one of many beautiful rock formations - picture taken from 25 miles away


Four Corners National Monument


The thunderstorm that followed us all afternoon

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