Alkali Ridge

Alkali Ridge is an archaeological site in the Utah desert containing remains of a Pueblo settlement with ceramics, pottery, and building foundations scattered across the landscape. The village layout displays both residential structures and ceremonial spaces that reveal how people organized their living areas over several centuries.

The site documents how Pueblo people shifted from living in pit dwellings to surface structures between roughly 700 and 1150 CE. This transition marks a significant change in how settlers built their homes and organized their settlements over generations.

The settlement reveals how Ancestral Pueblo people organized their living spaces and gathering places. The layout of residential units and ceremonial structures shows how they structured their daily community life.

The site is located near Blanding and can be explored on foot with marked trails that guide visitors through the ruins and remains. Bring plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes, as the desert location offers little shade and sparse facilities.

Chemical analysis of pottery from the site revealed cacao residue, showing that residents maintained trade connections with distant Mesoamerican communities. This discovery highlights how far-reaching the trading networks of this desert settlement actually were.

Location: San Juan County

GPS coordinates: 37.73004,-109.41280

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:21