The Salmon Ruins in Bloomfield, New Mexico

The Chaco Valley is the center of Chacoan civilization in New Mexico.   Trade routes and a growing population spread the culture north to the San Juan River Valley.

Chacoan Indians built this

pueblo, on the north bank of

the San Jan River, between

1088 & 1090 A.D.

The community originally had three hindered rooms on three levels.






It hugs the crest of
a rise.

An exposed exterior

wall.

Irregular shaped rocks

make up the interior

of the foot wide wall.

The exterior, & interior

walls too, are carefully

aligned & built with

stones cut for specific

sections of wall.

Eric & I look down on

numerous rooms.

The Chacoan Indians left the pueblo around 1120 A.D., and no one knows why.  Speculation includes a changing climate that made life here difficult or disease.

Around 1160, Pueblo Indians moved into the pueblo on the north side of the San Juan River. They and other people from the region lived in the large settlement.

Pueblo Indians made changes

to the square rooms they

found here, creating

kivas.

The round shaped kiva is built wholly or partially underground.  It is used for religious purposes and for other aspects of life.  I wonder if cooking occurred here.  the opening
on the far end looks like a hearth.

The Great Kiva was large enough

to hold hundreds for ceremonies

& public events.

The second occupation of the pueblo ended around 1265 A.D.  Again, no evidence was left behind to provide reasons for the population leaving the area.

The Salmon family homesteaded near the pueblo in the 1890s.  Generations of Salmons protected the pueblo.  Fortunately, the government stepped in to preserve the ruins.  A county bond issue in the 1960s, created the Salmon Ruins Site.  The Ruins are governed by the San Juan County Museum Association.  

Artifacts excavated from the ruins are on display in the Museum.