Existing comment:
Wukoki
Wukoki, a modern Hopi word for "Big House" was once home for two or three prehistoric Indian families. The inhabitants are believed to have been of the Kayenta Anasazi culture, judging from the types of artifacts found during excavation and stabilization. This site, occupied from approximately 1120-1210 A.D. afforded its occupants a commanding view of the surrounding terrain. The unusual three-story height, combined with its position atop this Moenkopi Sandstone outcrop, lends credence to the theory that this may have been one of several central or "focal" sites for the Anasazi Sinaguan People. It is visible from a great distance and from many perspectives in this area.
Three rooms are obvious today. Others were probably present during the period of occupation. A plaza area on the Southern side of the flat sandstone surface was likely used for daily activities such as food preparation, pottery-making, and may also have been an area for children to play. During mild weather it must have been a much more inviting place than the dark rooms of the pueblo.
The whole picture of this prehistoric community can only be completed with your assistance. Please leave the pottery sherds and other artifact where they are found. Do not deface the sandstone boulders and walls in any way. These are invaluable to archeologists who continue to study the ruins. Stay on marked trails to help preserve and protect this landscape, and the ancient ruins, for the enjoyment and education of future generations. |