Archeologist Jesse W. Fewkes was the first to map and photograph Wupatki at the turn of the century. Lyndon Hargrave conducted the first excavations in 1931. Many other archeological excavations and restorations have occurred since, eventually establishing that Wupatki was inhabited both before and after Sunset Volcano erupted in 1064 AD. Both the advent of tree-ring dating (dendronchronology) and paleomagnetic rock dating have helped establish the precise dates at which the various ruins were constructed and eventually destroyed.

Due to the efforts of Harold S. Colton and Samuel A. Barrett, Wupatki National Monument was established by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. It comprises 56 square miles (35, 254 acres) protecting these cultural artifacts on the southwestern Colorado Plateau. In a 6-year survey conducted by archeologist Bruce Anderson between 1981 and 1987 for the National Park Service, more than 2,700 sites were photographed, mapped and analyzed within the Monument.



First 13 pictures from a Spring college geology class field trip in 1970.

Second group from a solo trip in June, 1971; Wupatiki, 2006 from my visit on 9/13/2006.