Aztec Ruins National Monument, Archaeological site in Aztec, New Mexico.
The Aztec Ruins National Monument contains masonry structures with over 400 interconnected rooms and multiple ceremonial chambers spread across the western bank of Animas River.
The ancestral Puebloan people constructed these buildings during the 12th and 13th centuries, completing the main structure within a rapid 30-year period.
The reconstructed Great Kiva, a circular ceremonial chamber, demonstrates the engineering capabilities and religious practices of the Indigenous Pueblo communities.
The monument offers free admission, self-guided tours along the Aztec West Trail, and educational programs at the visitor center with exhibits of ancient artifacts.
The site preserves original wooden ceiling beams from 900 years ago, reflecting the advanced architectural methods and natural resource management of Puebloan builders.
Location: New Mexico
Inception: January 24, 1923
Website: https://nps.gov/azru
GPS coordinates: 36.83682,-107.99981
Latest update: May 27, 2025 07:13
New Mexico combines geological formations with historical sites spanning multiple periods. The region includes cave systems such as Carlsbad Caverns, extensive gypsum fields at White Sands, volcanic landscapes at El Malpais National Monument, and unusual rock formations in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. The territory also preserves evidence of pre-Columbian and Spanish settlement, including pueblo ruins, cliff dwellings, and seventeenth-century mission complexes. Sites range from ancient petroglyphs at Three Rivers to military installations like Fort Union. Natural attractions include hot springs at Jemez Springs, the volcanic crater of Valles Caldera, and the deep blue waters of Blue Hole. The collection features archaeological monuments such as Chaco Culture and Bandelier, geological curiosities like the hoodoos at Tent Rocks, and historic pueblos including Taos, which has been continuously inhabited for over a thousand years.
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