Back to VR Archaeology List | Home | See Aztec East & Earl Morris Ruin
Aztec Ruins (named in modern times and not to be confused with the culture
of the Aztec Empire of Mexico) is located about 55 miles north of Chaco
Canyon. This important Chaco Outlier is connected to Pueblo Alto by a prehistoric
road. The locale has many more ruins that remain undocumented and unexcavated.
Building began around 1100AD. By 1300AD the entire population had abandoned
the valley.
The West Ruin (seen above in the foreground), with its 490 room on three
floors, was supassed in size only by Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon. The
Great Kiva, 45 feet in diameter, has 14 perimeter rooms with wall niche
ladders down to the kiva floor. In this century archaeologists rebuilt the
Great Kiva and it may now be visited (Please see
the Section following on the Aztec Ruins Great Kiva).
