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Wu PAT WUPATKI Where A Prehistoric People Survived in the Shadow of a Volcano

ABOUT A THOUSAND YEARS AGO

In the land northeast of what is now Flagstaff, a group of prehistoric Indians called the Sinagua thrived, farming the lowlands and trading with other peoples. Their domain ranged north to the Little Colorado River and south to the Verde Valley. Then in A.D. 1064, a nearby volcano erupted, spewing lava and ash for miles and causing the people to flee. But not for long. As the volcanic fury subsided, leaving the 1,000-foot-high Sunset Crater cinder cone, the Sinagua moved back. Rainfall was plentiful in the area, and the Sinagua again thrived, constructing a network of structures. Some of their dwellings resembled those built by the Anasazi, and their ball courts copied the Hohokam model. As drought began to scorch the area in the middle of the 12th century, the Sinagua started to move on, completely abandoning the area in the 13th century. The remains of their settlements and Sunset Crater have been designated by the federal government as national monuments. Come with us on a quick visit to this ancient site.