Montezuma Castle National Monument in Yavapai County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Macaw Pen Stone?
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 7, 2010
1. Macaw Pen Stone? Marker
Where Did This Stone Come From?
Who Used It?
Why Is This Stone at Montezuma Castle?
Did the Ancient Sinaguans Possibly
Raise Macaws Here?
In the 15th century, near modern-day Casa Grande in northern Mexico, thrived a vibrant community and trading center called Paquime. There, tropical birds called macaws, were brought up from the jungles far to the south. Thousands of macaws were bred and raised in compact adobe boxes that outlined one of the plazas. Disk-shaped rocks with circular openings were placed at the front of each of these macaw pens.
Because we do not know where this stone came from, we will never be able to answer these questions. When you remove artifacts from their original place valuable information is lost forever. The artifact looses its meaning and becomes simply an object. Please leave artifacts exactly as you find them.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities •
this page online
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 34° 36.71′ N, 111° 50.398′ W. Marker was in Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona, in Yavapai County. It could be reached from Montezuma Castle Road. Marker is at the west end of the visitor center. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Camp Verde AZ 86322, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Arizona’s Verde Valley and in the Yavapai-Apache Nation. It was also in the American Southwest and in the Mountain West. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Timeless Beauty (within shouting distance of this marker); Kinship Ties (about 400 feet away); Creekside Community (about 400 feet away); Creating a Home (about 500 feet away); Cycles of Care (about 500 feet away); A Piece of Modern
Photographed by Regan Choi, undated
2. Photo on Macaw Pen Stone? Marker
[Caption reads] Fifteenth-century macaw pens missing their roofs in a plaza at Paquime.
Other markers no longer nearby. Welcome to The Castle (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); The Community (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Way Up / Construction Sequence (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . Montezuma Castle National Monument. (Submitted on March 14, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 7, 2010
3. Macaw Pen Stones and Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 7, 2010
4. Macaw Pen Stones?
Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,567 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 14, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
