Walnut Canyon National Monument in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Room Functions
Most rooms in this community did not house people. Archeologists think many rooms, like the one to your left, were used to store tools, food, and water. Residents could have stored a 100-day water supply without much difficulty, given large pottery vessels and the abundant storage rooms found in the canyon.
The larger rooms here are typical of living spaces, where people slept and sought shelter from bad weather. Family size is unknown, but several people probably lived together in one room. Most work took place outside, weather permitting.
As you continue around the bend, look for the remains of a retaining wall along the canyon edge, constructed to create a "patio" workspace.
[Illustration captions read]
These cut-away illustrations offer a glimpse of various room functions, and how uses may have changed over time.
Look for an outline of a doorway between two rooms. It was blocked off while the rooms were in use.
——————
When undisturbed, the types of artifacts and where they are found reveal much about the common activities of life 800 years ago.
In one of these rooms, archeologists recovered knives, sandals, shaped stone cylinders, and tools for making pottery and crafting arrowshafts.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 35° 10.11′ N, 111° 30.658′ W. Marker is in Walnut Canyon National Monument, Arizona, in Coconino County. Marker is along the Island Trail loop, only accessible from the visitor center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Walnut Canyon Road, Flagstaff AZ 86004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. From Ocean to Alcove (within shouting distance of this marker); A Days Work (within shouting distance of this marker); The Quest for Water (within shouting distance of this marker); An Efficient Design (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Problem Solving (about 400 feet away); A Community Sharing the Land (about 600 feet away); What Happened Here? (about 600 feet away); The Perfect Shelter (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Canyon National Monument.
Also see . . . Walnut Canyon National Monument. (Submitted on November 24, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 489 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 24, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.