Near Nageezi in San Juan County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Fajada Butte
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 22, 2018
1. Fajada Butte Marker
Photo Caption:
Fajada means "belted" or banded" in Spanish and describes the black seam of lignite cola exposed midway up the butte, dividing the Cliff House Sandstone from the Menefee Formation.
Fajada means "belted" or banded" in Spanish and describes the black seam of lignite cola exposed midway up the butte, dividing the Cliff House Sandstone from the Menefee Formation.
Fajada Butte dominates the landscape. Exposed rock layers reveal the regions geologic and human history.
Cliff House Sandstone forms the upper layer with deposits of fossil shells, clams, shark teeth, and marine sand. Menefee Formation forms the lower layers, combining siltstones and mudstones interbedded with sandstone, shale, and thin coal beds. This easily eroded formation undercuts the harder sandstone layer above, causing unsupported boulders to break off and continue the erosion process of Fajada Butte.
The Chacoan people used the various rock layers in their daily lives. They quarried sandstone for building materials, tools, and food processing (manos and metates). Cliff faces provided a place to record symbols and images. Fossils, shale, jet, and argillite were used for jewelry.
Today Fajada Butte is a sacred place for the Pueblo, Hopi,, and Navajo peoples. The butte figures prominently in their oral histories, migration stories, and ongoing traditions, revealing their connections to the land.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans.
Location. 36° 1.706′ N, 107° 54.243′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ancient Astronomers (here, next to this marker); Chaco: A World Heritage Site (approx. 0.4 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Chaco Culture. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on July 15, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
2. Fajada Butte. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 15, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 22, 2018
2. Fajada Butte Marker
Fajada Butte Marker on the left.
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 22, 2018
3. Fajada Butte Marker
Fajada Butte Marker on the left. Fajada Butte can be seen in the distance.
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 22, 2018
4. Fajada Butte
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 21, 2018
5. Chaco Culture National Historic Park - Fajada Butte
Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 15, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
