Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings
Sinagua (1125–1250 CE)·Sinagua·🇺🇸 Arizona, Coconino County, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Island Trail, United States
Ken Thomas · Public domain
About
About Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings
Walnut Canyon excavated by Fewkes and Colton 1930s, Sinagua canyon rim and canyon. Recorded context — Period: Sinagua (1125–1250 CE); Culture: Sinagua; Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone, Kaibab limestone; Condition: preserved — NPS trail.
Why it mattersKey Sinagua ancient-village with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Astronomical alignment
- 02Function of enclosure
Theories
- 01Elite residence
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. 1125 CE desert canyon edge
- Period
- Sinagua (1125–1250 CE)
- Culture
- Sinagua
- Purpose
- 25 cliff rooms in limestone alcoves on Walnut Canyon island trail — Sinagua 800-person canyon community
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1978
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings
c. 1125 CE desert canyon edge
Initial construction / first occupation at Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings
1990 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings
On the ground
Structures & features
35.1700° N · 111.5100° W · 2020 m · 4 mapped features
- Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — subsidiary complex35.1709° N · 111.5093° W
- Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — Complex Annex 2complexcomplex at Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — outlier feature35.1710° N · 111.5092° W
- Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — Rock_Art Annex 3rock artrock art at Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — subsidiary complex35.1714° N · 111.5110° W
- Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — Structure Annex 4structurestructure at Walnut Canyon — Island Trail Cliff Dwellings — outlier feature35.1703° N · 111.5114° W
Gallery