Casa Malpais Archaeological Park and National Historic Landmark
Casa Malpais Pueblo
Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan 1260–1350 CE·Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan·🇺🇸 Arizona, United States
About
About Casa Malpais Archaeological Park and National Historic Landmark
60-room 3-storey basalt pueblo on malpais lava flow 1260–1350 CE with Great Kiva solar calendar and macaw pen, Chacoan–Mogollon syncretism. Recorded context — Period: Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan 1260–1350 CE; Culture: Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan; Field status: partially excavated; Materials: vesicular basalt, adobe; Condition: ruins.
Why it mattersArchaeological landmark for Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan in Arizona; type-site demonstrating basalt great house and great kiva and regional exchange.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function and chronology of Casa Malpais Archaeological Park and National Historic Landmark within Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan 1260–1350 CE
- 02Relationship to neighboring polities
Theories
- 01Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan ceremonial center for basalt great house and great kiva
- 02Regional capital controlling trade and tribute network
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.1260–1350 CE
- Period
- Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan 1260–1350 CE
- Culture
- Mogollon–Ancestral Puebloan
- Purpose
- Basalt great house and Great Kiva
- Abandoned
- c.1350 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1883 E W Nelson
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1260–1350 CE
Casa Malpais Archaeological Park and National Historic Landmark construction phase
20th century
Modern excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
34.1711° N · 109.2908° W · 2090 m · 2 mapped features
Gallery