Aztec Ruins Monument contains the remains of prehistoric Anasazi structures. The ruins were named when European settlers mistakenly attributed them to the Aztecs. The largest preserved structure is the West Ruin, a D-shaped great house constructed in the early 1100s. With close to 400 rooms, the site was occupied for over 200 years. Hubbard Site, dating from the early 1100s and one of only a handful of tri-walled structures in the Southwest, has three concentric walls divided into 22 rooms, with a kiva. Also of note is the Great Kiva, situated in the center of West Ruin's plaza. It was rebuilt in 1934 by Earl Morris, archeologist for the American Museum of Natural History. By 1300 A.D. the Anasazi had vacated the sites and left the river valley for unknown reasons.

Aztec Ruins National Monument, administered by the National Park Service, is one mile north of Aztec, New Mexico, off US 550. Open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Please call 505-334-6174 ext. 30, or visit the park's website for further information. Aztec Ruins are also part of the Chaco Culture National Historic Park World Heritage Site.

Credits and Sources:

National Park Service. "Discover Our Shared Heritage American Southwest, A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary: List of Sites." http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/amsw/sitelist.htm.