Pueblo Bonito

Pueblo Bonito is an excavated settlement in New Mexico spanning several acres with hundreds of stone rooms arranged in a distinctive D-shaped pattern. The structures display multiple stories and central chambers used for ceremonies and community gatherings.

The settlement was constructed between the 9th and 12th centuries by Ancestral Puebloan peoples in multiple building phases representing a peak of their architectural achievement. The structure was later abandoned and lay hidden under desert sand for centuries until modern excavation efforts exposed it.

Spanish conquistadors named it "Beautiful Village" when they encountered the ruins centuries after its abandonment. The layout and room arrangement reveal how residents organized both daily life and spiritual practices.

Visitors reach the ruins via a short, well-marked trail starting from a nearby visitor center with some elevation changes along the way. Early morning or late afternoon visits work best since sun exposure is less intense and walking is easier.

Archaeologists found cacao remains in pottery fragments, revealing that residents tapped into trade networks stretching over a thousand kilometers. This discovery shows unexpected connections and exchange with distant communities long before European contact.