Crumbled House

Crumbled House is an archaeological site in northwestern New Mexico featuring two room blocks and three descending segments from a mesa top, with circular towers and high walls along the edges. The structure contains approximately eighty ground floor rooms, twenty-five second story rooms, and fourteen subterranean kivas all constructed from sandstone cobbles.

The Ancestral Puebloans constructed and inhabited this fortified settlement between 1100 and 1250 CE, establishing a strategic position near Chaco Canyon. This period saw significant regional migration and shifts in settlement patterns across Puebloan societies.

The keyhole-shaped kivas and specific masonry styles show connections to Mesa Verde building traditions and pottery craftsmanship practiced by different Puebloan communities. These construction methods reflect shared knowledge passed between neighboring settlements.

Wear sturdy footwear when exploring the multiple levels and uneven terrain surrounding the ruins. Visiting early in the morning or late afternoon works best, when light illuminates the stone structures better and fewer people are on site.

An eastern ditch separates the mesa from the neighboring plateau, contributing to a defensive system that sets this settlement apart from other Puebloan sites. This feature shows the sophisticated planning used to protect a location raised over 30 meters (100 feet) above the valley floor.

Location: New Mexico

GPS coordinates: 36.24610,-108.83200

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:07