Canyon de Chelly
National Monument
Arizona
Antelope House Ruins
Antelope House Ruin |
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By the time the Kayenta
Anasazi Indians
began a major expansion of this pueblo around 1050 A.D. they had already
occupied the Antelope site hundreds of years. Paintings of antelope on
a nearby cliff wall provided the ruin with its name. Some people now think
that the paintings may be the work of
Dibe
Yazhi, a Navajo artist who lived nearby in the 1830's... |
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Antelope House is set in a deep,
protective alcove. However, its position near the canyon floor has
exposed it to sporadic flooding over the years. The Anasazi abandoned the
structure by 1270 A.D. Some historians speculate that a major flood
incited their departure since parts of the pueblo have been washed away.
Others suggest warfare or disease set off the exodus. No one really knows
for sure. |
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The pueblo complex is made up of
two main buildings bordering a central plaza. There may have been as many
as 91 rooms. The structure may have been up to four stories tall in
parts. It also contained two or three large kivas and several smaller
ones. The Anasazi originally plastered the walls on each side,
covering the masonry construction. Even today, some of the remaining
walls display decorative paint designs. |
Canyon de
Chelly
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Canyon De Chelly National Monument | |
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