This week we had an “education day” (on top of continuing fence work) where our crew explored the monuments around Flagstaff. Above is Wupatki National Monument, a dwelling from the 13th century that was built and used by the Northern Sinagua, Cohonina, Kayenta, and Hohokam people (ancestors of modern-day Hopi and Zuni). Although this is the middle of the desert, there used to be a spring nearby that would produce 500 gallons of water per day.
The puebloan people grew corn, beans, squash, and grains. Despite current arid conditions, soil in the area was actually quite fertile due to a prior volcanic eruption.
Sunset Crater Volcano erupted roughly 200 years prior to Wupatki and other surrounding pueblos being built. The more than 3-mile-high eruption sent lava flows out for several miles.
The ash from this eruption covered more than 800 square miles of surrounding area, to the detriment of local residents but the benefit of future ones. Ash retains moisture, and also contains elements like magnesium, calcium, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron and zinc that are important in plant growth. The time after the eruption was great for growing crops, which is likely why the puebloan people chose this area to settle (in addition to the nearby spring).
The people of Wupatki and other surrounding pueblos didn’t stay long, however. In just a hundred years the site was abandoned, and archaeologists and historians don’t know exactly why.
Kaleigh Keohane 