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1966 Map of Sargent Ranch

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Sargent Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Chaco Canyon National Monument dominates the southern landscape of this mid-1960s survey, revealing a high-desert environment rich in archaeological significance. The map meticulously records the locations of ancient structures such as the Wijiji Ruins and the Shabik'eshchee Ruins along the sandstone cliffs of Chacra Mesa. These sites are positioned near the confluence of the ephemeral Chaco Wash and Sheep Camp Canyon, illustrating the relationship between the ancestral inhabitants and the drainage patterns of the San Juan Basin.

Evidence of more recent ranching and water management is scattered across the territory, from the Sargent Ranch situated near the canyon floor to isolated infrastructure like Willie Well and Sleepy Grass Dam. The region is defined by its complex network of seasonal watercourses, including the broad reaches of Escavada Wash and Gallo Wash, which have carved deep paths through the high plateau. Long-distance transit is represented by winding Jeep Trails that traverse the open range between the San Juan and McKinley county lines.