1961 Map of Pueblo Pintado

About this map

Pueblo Pintado (Ruins) and the sprawling boundaries of Chaco Canyon National Monument anchor this high-desert landscape in the early 1960s. The terrain is defined by the massive plateau of Chaco Mesa, which is bisected by the steep-walled Pintado Canyon. This map records a remarkable density of archaeological sites, including several simply labeled Ruins and a Cliff Dwelling, illustrating the significant ancestral Puebloan heritage preserved here. Human activity is focused along Chaco Wash, where the Pueblo Pintado Sch and a nearby Landing Strip represent the modern infrastructure supporting the community and visitors. Water sources, vital in this arid environment, are clearly marked at Ramona Spring and Burro Spring. The map also captures industrial footprints such as a Gravel Pit and a long Pipeline cutting across the northern reaches of the quadrangle.