1982 Map of Preston Mesa North

About this map

Preston Mesa rises prominently in the southern portion of this high-altitude landscape, part of the extensive Navajo Indian Reservation in northern Arizona. The terrain is defined by dramatic geological features, including the winding spine of Crooked Ridge and the edge of Black Mesa. Land use at the time of this 1982 edition appears centered on livestock and natural resource extraction, evidenced by several scattered Corrals and a Quarry. The intricate network of unimproved roads and trails shown suggests a sparsely populated region where movement followed the natural contours of the mesas and ridges. This map provides a look at the topographical isolation and specific land-management practices of the reservation before the transition into the modern era.