Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring
Kayenta Ancestral Pueblo (1250–1300 CE) + inscriptions 1661 Nieves, 1930s cowboys·Kayenta / Navajo / Spanish·🇺🇸 Arizona, Navajo County, Inscription House, Navajo National Monument near Nitsin Canyon, United States
About
About Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring
Inscription House closed since 1968, Kayenta 1270 pueblo with Spanish 1661 nieves inscription. Recorded context — Period: Kayenta Ancestral Pueblo (1250–1300 CE) + inscriptions 1661 Nieves, 1930s cowboys; Culture: Kayenta / Navajo / Spanish; Field status: partially excavated; Materials: sandstone; Condition: closed — preserve.
Why it mattersKey Kayenta / Navajo / Spanish ancient-village with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Construction labor organization
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 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. 1270 CE pueblo 30 rooms
- Period
- Kayenta Ancestral Pueblo (1250–1300 CE) + inscriptions 1661 Nieves, 1930s cowboys
- Culture
- Kayenta / Navajo / Spanish
- Purpose
- Small Kayenta cliff dwelling with later 1661 Spanish carving (Diego Nieves) and cowboy names — cross-cultural carving
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1923
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring
c. 400 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring
c. 1270 CE pueblo 30 rooms
Initial construction / first occupation at Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring
On the ground
Structures & features
36.6560° N · 110.8430° W · 1840 m · 4 mapped features
- Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — outlier feature36.6570° N · 110.8440° W
- Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — Complex Annex 2complexcomplex at Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — primary structure36.6562° N · 110.8413° W
- Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — subsidiary complex36.6557° N · 110.8436° W
- Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — Eastern Structurestructurestructure at Inscription House — Kayenta Cliff Storage Spring — outlier feature36.6563° N · 110.8424° W