Wupatki National Monument

Sometime around 1100 AD, after Sunset Volcano was done erupting, some early ancestors of the Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo people returned and settled here, just 15 miles from the volcano, near present-day Flagstaff. The thin ash layer from the eruption absorbed moisture and increased crop production.


There are other ancient pueblos in the area, but this is the biggest. Notice how they used existing rock as walls and floors when possible, and incorporated sandstone blocks to complete the rooms.


This is how it originally looked. I thought the parrots were odd, but I did some Googling and found out they did have parrots here, having traded for them with the ancient Toltecs from present-day Mexico.


With over 100 rooms, this ruin is believed to be the area's tallest and largest structure for its time period.


A round "community room" is located in front of the pueblo (on the right side of the photo) -


And a ceremonial ballcourt is down the hill.


One of the other pueblos in the National Monument is called Wukoki. It looks like a ship, and is visible for many miles around.


Here, too, the masonry is incorporated with the natural rock.


You're allowed to go into the rooms here.


Wow! Those ancient ones must have been pretty short!