Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin
Basketmaker to Pueblo III (300–1300 CE) plus Navajo later·Kayenta Ancestral Puebloan·🇺🇸 Arizona, Apache County, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Mummy Cave, United States
About
About Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin
Mummy Cave excavated by Fewkes and Morris 1920s, mummy found 1882 with slave. Recorded context — Period: Basketmaker to Pueblo III (300–1300 CE) plus Navajo later; Culture: Kayenta Ancestral Puebloan; Field status: partially excavated; Materials: sandstone, adobe; Condition: preserved — NPS overlook.
Why it mattersKey Kayenta Ancestral Puebloan ancient-village with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Collapse cause
Theories
- 01Defensive stronghold
- 02Observatory
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1100 CE 80 rooms; 1280 tower
- Period
- Basketmaker to Pueblo III (300–1300 CE) plus Navajo later
- Culture
- Kayenta Ancestral Puebloan
- Purpose
- 80-room 2-ledge cliff dwelling with 3-storey tower (10 m) in 100 m alcove — Canyon de Chelly icon
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1894
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1200 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin
c. 1100 CE 80 rooms; 1280 tower
Initial construction / first occupation at Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin
1920 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin
On the ground
Structures & features
36.1360° N · 109.3840° W · 1850 m · 4 mapped features
- Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — outlier feature36.1376° N · 109.3849° W
- Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — outlier feature36.1365° N · 109.3833° W
- Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — Rock_Art Annex 3rock artrock art at Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — hydraulic feature36.1360° N · 109.3839° W
- Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — Eastern Structurestructurestructure at Canyon de Chelly — Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin — hydraulic feature36.1360° N · 109.3841° W
Gallery