Old Fort Ruin
Encyclopedia
Old Fort Ruin is an archaeological site located in Rio Arriba County, northwestern New Mexico
, USA, on lands owned by the State of New Mexico. The site consists of the ruins of a Navajo pueblito
and associated hogan
s and artifacts
. The site is included on the National Register of Historic Places
in New Mexico.
overlooking a deep canyon in the cultural area known as the Dinétah
, the traditional homeland of the Navajo people
.
The site contains the remains of eight forked-stick hogans and 12 ground floor rooms, all of which are enclosed by a stone wall. The wall stands nearly 2 meters in height. Access to the interior compound was gained via two covered entry passages which lead north onto a bench of the cliff below the site.
sherds, and bones from sheep, horses, dogs and mule deer
also snipe
. The ceramics were mainly of the local Dinetah Gray and Gobernador Polychrome types, along with trade wares from the Rio Grande Pueblo
region including Ashiwi, Puname, Tewa, Payupki and Hawikuh polychrome specimens.
Dendrochronological samples from the site indicate dates ranging from 1722 to 1749 C.E.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, USA, on lands owned by the State of New Mexico. The site consists of the ruins of a Navajo pueblito
Navajo pueblitos
The term Navajo Pueblitos, also known as Dinétah Pueblitos, refers to a class of archaeological sites that are found in the northwestern corner of the American state of New Mexico...
and associated hogan
Hogan
A hogan is the primary traditional home of the Navajo people. Other traditional structures include the summer shelter, the underground home, and the sweat house...
s and artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
. The site is included on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in New Mexico.
Site description
Old Fort is located on the edge of a mesaMesa
A mesa or table mountain is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape....
overlooking a deep canyon in the cultural area known as the Dinétah
Dinetah
Dinétah is the traditional homeland of the Navajo tribe of Native Americans. In the Navajo language, the word means "among the people" or "among the Navajo"...
, the traditional homeland of the Navajo people
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
.
The site contains the remains of eight forked-stick hogans and 12 ground floor rooms, all of which are enclosed by a stone wall. The wall stands nearly 2 meters in height. Access to the interior compound was gained via two covered entry passages which lead north onto a bench of the cliff below the site.
Excavations
Archaeological investigations at the site produced a metate, manos, arrowshaft smoothers, an iron axe, a variety of ceramicCeramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
sherds, and bones from sheep, horses, dogs and mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
also snipe
Snipe
A snipe is any of about 25 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill and crypsis plumage. The Gallinago snipes have a nearly worldwide distribution, the Lymnocryptes Jack Snipe is restricted to Asia and Europe and the...
. The ceramics were mainly of the local Dinetah Gray and Gobernador Polychrome types, along with trade wares from the Rio Grande Pueblo
Pueblo people
The Pueblo people are a Native American people in the Southwestern United States. Their traditional economy is based on agriculture and trade. When first encountered by the Spanish in the 16th century, they were living in villages that the Spanish called pueblos, meaning "towns". Of the 21...
region including Ashiwi, Puname, Tewa, Payupki and Hawikuh polychrome specimens.
Dendrochronological samples from the site indicate dates ranging from 1722 to 1749 C.E.