Wupatki

After the eruption many natives returned . The lava acted like a mulch helping to retain water in this arid region. They built pueblos similar to those at Mesa Verde and Chaco  north of the lava field and south of the painted desert.

 but in the lapilli or ash area. there are about 5 in the area. We were getting a bit puebloed out so visited just 3. They all have Hopi names as Hopi, Zuni, Acoma and Navajo  all have links to them. The pueblos were abandoned from about 1300CE.

Wupatki pueblo is perhaps the most extensive built of stone it is similar to the New Mexico sites.

Wukosi Pueblo looks like a Norman Castle with which it would be contemporaneous.

This access road was also used as the site of the entrance to the commune in Easy Rider although the buildings set up for the shoot have been removed.

The third pueblo was citadel so named because it looks like one sitting on top of its mesa.

The whole area is overlooked by the San Francisco mountains which were looking particularly attractive because of the late snowfall 3 days before.