Black cinders still blanket the ground for many miles
surrounding Sunset Crater Volcano. Yet only shortly after the
volcano went silent around 1100AD, people settled into the area
building pueblos on the rocks and cultivating corn, beans and
squash below in the ash enriched soil. View NE from Wukoki
Pueblo What a curious place to build a farming community with
hot, dry summers and limited water. In this area only a few
seeps and springs existed with the Little Colorado River 5-10
miles away. Yet these people shaped their lives to the land.
Using the red sandstone outcroppings as a base masons mortared
together natural stone blocks as bricks to shelter their
families. Metate, stones for grinding corn It’s believed that
the women built and maintained the home, made pottery, gathered
wild plants and prepared food while the men tended the crops,
hunted and wove textiles. Nalakihu and Citadel Pueblos High
walls on the north and west sides help protect from prevailing
winds. Terraced rooms to the south and east bat