Kin Kletso

Kin Kletso is a ruined Pueblo settlement built from sandstone blocks and adobe mortar set at the base of canyon cliffs. The structure contains roughly 55 rooms, four ceremonial chambers below ground level, and a two-story round tower.

The settlement rose between 1125 and 1130 when Ancestral Puebloans migrated from the northern San Juan Basin to Chaco Canyon. This period marked a time of rapid construction and settlement expansion across the region.

The site reveals traces of obsidian working, showing that residents engaged in specialized craft production. You can see how this community developed distinct manufacturing skills alongside daily living.

The site sits roughly 40 kilometers southwest of Nageezi and is reached by a gravel road through open country. Plan for intense sun and heat, and bring plenty of water since shade is limited at the ruins.

The name comes from the Navajo language meaning Yellow House, taken from the color of the construction materials. This bilingual naming reveals how later Native peoples connected to and named these ancient ruins.

Location: San Juan County

GPS coordinates: 36.06520,-107.97000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:21