The 176,000 acres of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Southwestern Colorado holds what’s considered to be the largest concentration of archaeological sites in the U.S. More than 8,300 individual sites have been found within the national monument, most of which are ruins of the Ancestral Puebloans – a group of Native Americans who resided in the Four Corners region. That’s not all that’s there though – there’s an estimated 30,000 sites that have yet to be recorded, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

Various sites that have been documented include villages, kivas, field houses, cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and ancient roadways.

“These sites offer a window into over 12,000 years of human history, primarily shaped by Ancestral Puebloan cultures and their descendants,” wrote the Bureau of Land Management about the spot. “The area continues to be a living landscape used today for traditional purposes, recreation, hunting, livestock grazing, and energy development.”

Ruins from the Ancestral Puebloans were primarily constructed from 750 AD to 1300 AD. Stone towers and walls are the most common sightings in this area, giving visitors a look into what an Ancestral Puebloan town looked like a millennium ago.

“Today, the Monument remains a living cultural landscape for 26 Tribes and Pueblos, where ancient villages and diverse plants and wildlife coexist against a backdrop of dramatic mesas, canyons, and sacred peaks,” describes the Bureau of Land Management.

As far as wildlife in the area goes, the spot is home to a multitude of animals, including golden eagles, mule deer, and bobcats. Many other species can be found, as well.

Visitors are encouraged to start their trip by swinging by the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum where staff can help them plan their day.

If you’re planning a visit to see this spot, start here, and know that the closest larger town in the area is Cortez. A trip to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument goes great with a trip to Mesa Verde National Park and the Four Corners region, as well.

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