Aztec Ruins, West Ruin (Site Name Keyword)

IMAGE Gary Brown.

Aztec West, Sector 3, Room 66 room suite (photographed by Gary Brown prior to backfilling). First- and second-story room suite. (See Morris 1928: 336-337, etc.) Image AZRU-G02-26: Looking SE through aligned first-story doorways from Room 82 to Room 66. Image AZRU-G02-27: Looking SE through first-story doorway in south wall of Room 84 to Room 67. Image AZRU-G02-28: Interior view of south wall in Room 66 looking south. Image AZRU-G02-29: Interior view of south wall in Room 66 looking south. Image...

IMAGE Gary Brown.

Aztec West, Sector 4, Kiva L (photographed by Gary Brown). Kiva is central core of the great house. No publication exists on the kivas excavated by AMNH (but see unpublished Morris kiva notes). Image AZRU-G04-12: Overview of kiva looking ESE from third story Room 114.

DOCUMENT Full-Text Earl H. Morris.

This report by Earl H. Morris summarizes his observations and interpretations of excavated rooms at Aztec West Ruin between 1916 and 1922. To quote Morris' introduction to the monograph "In compiling these notes, it was the desire of the writer to set down each and every condition observed that might aid in explaining the building of the pueblo, the cycle of its inhabitation, and the agencies of its destruction, and make possible the reconstruction of at least the cultural history of those who...

DOCUMENT Full-Text Earl H. Morris.

The following pages contain the greater part of the notes recorded while excavations at the Aztec Ruin were in progress. The first were written in July, 1916; the last, in August, 1927. Those here segregated are confined to secular rooms and general conditions, the ceremonial chambers having been reserved for treatment in a paper dealing specifically with kivas.

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Coiled Basket, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #8634. Morris FS 2125. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Coiled, 3 rod bunched, sumac basket base with rawhide strips. Image: AMNH 29.0/8634A: basket base with rawhide strips along one side. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 78, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 78 at the time of excavation is as follows. “About three-fourths of a cord of cedar splints such as were used in the construction of ceilings had been left in Room...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Basket Base, Accession AZRU-00061, Catalog #9872. FS 167. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Base of coiled basket attached to large rock, plus frags. Measurements: 6.0 L, 6.0 W (piece fused to stone). Images: AZRU61-9872 A: basket base fused to stone. AZRU61-9872 B: basket base fused to stone, closer view. AZRU61-9872 C: coiled basket fragment, 2-rod-and-bundle foundation. Recovered from Room 225, 80-100 CM bel 2nd datum, Aztec West Ruin.

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Basket Ladle, Accession AMNH29.1, Catalog #3219. Morris FS 5432. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Painted basket ladle or rattle with remnants of red clay coating, 2 rod and welt, grass, yucca, willow or sumac. Images: AMNH 29.1/3219A: basket ladle with remnants of red clay coating. AMNH 29.1/3219B: detail showing remnants of red clay coating. AMNH 29.1/3219C: underside. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 189, Lower Level, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 189 at...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Basket Plaque, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #2896. Morris FS 3739. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Coiled basket plaque or base. Measurements: D 11.7 CM. Image: AZRU8-2896 A: small plaque or bowl fragment with a one-rod foundation. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 147, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 147 at the time of excavation is as follows: “the immediate floor covering was a foot of refuse, with Burials Nos. 60 and 61 on the surface of the refuse…[long...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Basket Plaque, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #2897. Morris FS 3738. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Coiled basket plaque or base. Measurements: D 12.7 CM Image: AZRU8-2897 incomplete plaque or the flat base of a steep-sided basket. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 147, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 147 at the time of excavation is as follows: “the immediate floor covering was a foot of refuse, with Burials Nos. 60 and 61 on the surface of the refuse…[long...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Basket Splints, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #2600. Morris FS 3885. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Bundle of basket splints, possibly willow, wrapped crosswise with same. Measurements: L 13.0, D 5.0 where bound CM. Image: AZRU8-2600 A: bundle of basket splints. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room152-2, Aztec West Ruin. Morris described Room 152-2 as having: “In the southwest corner a bundle of rush stems the raw material for plaited mats, and a coil of basket splints. The...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Bound and Knotted Yucca Leaves, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #1042. Morris [Unknown]. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Bundle of yucca leaves tied in square knots, bound crosswise at center with additional leaves tied in square knots. Measurements: Not measured. Image: AZRU8-1042 A: Bundle of bound and knotted yucca leaves. AZRU8-1042 B: other face. Recovered from Earl Morris excavation of Room 136-2(?), Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 136-2 at the time of excavation...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Bound Corn Tassels, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #2749. Morris FS 5038. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Small bundle of corn tassels wrapped crosswise five times with narrow twigs. Measurements: L 25.0, W 6.0 where bound CM. Images: AZRU8-2749 A: bundle of corn tassels bound with twigs. AZRU8-2749 B: other face. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 180, Aztec West Ruin. Morris described Room 180 as “fallen into ruin [before the later occupation of Aztec Ruin]. The partial...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Bound Sticks, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #2634. Morris FS 3594. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Two sticks bound together with a split twig. Some brown bark still present. Measurements: Not measured. Image: AZRU8-2634 A: two sticks wrapped with split twig binding. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room154-2, third story, Aztec West Ruin. For Room 154-2 Morris reports that “Through the vent in the west wall of Room 113 made by relic hunters it could be seen that the eastern third...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Bound Twigs, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #2783. Morris FS 3731. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Small bundle of juniper twigs bound crosswise with two yucca strips, each tied with a square knot. Measurements: L 8.0, D 2.0 CM. Image: AZRU8-2783 A: small bundle of juniper twigs bound with two yucca-leaf ties in square knots. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 147, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 147 at the time of excavation is as follows: “the immediate floor...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Braided Cloth, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #9442. Morris FS 2926. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Braided, plain-woven cotton cloth strips. Image: AMNH 29.0/9442A: braided cloth strips. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 139, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 139 at the time of excavation is as follows: “When the writer broke through the veneer of masonry which sealed the north side of the door leading into Room 139 from Room 143, the condition of the ceiling...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Braided Cords, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #7598. Morris FS 1191 . Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Square-braided cords of cotton fiber. Image: AMNH 29.0/7598 A-D A: braided cords. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 48, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 48 at the time of excavation is as follows. “The floor was covered with refuse.. The greater proportion of this deposit was of vegetable substance; cornstalks, husks, tassels, and cobs, cedarbark, splinters of...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Brush. Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #1348. Morris FS 3729-A. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Brush made of a bundle of unidentified stiff plant material wrapped crosswise with 2S-Z yucca cordage tied in a knot. Measurements: L 21.5, D 2.7 where bound. Image: AZRU8-1348 A: Yucca or pine needle brush. AZRU8-1348 B: Yucca or pine needle brush. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 147, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 147 at the time of excavation is as follows: “the...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Brush, Accession AZRU-00008, Catalog #2775. Morris FS 5317. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Small bundle of pine needles? bound crosswise with Z-SPUN cotton yarn tied in square knot. Some elements missing. Measurements: L 18.0, D 2.5 where bound CM. Image: AZRU8-2775 A: probable pine-needle brush wrapped with z-spun cotton yarn tied in a square knot. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 189, Lower Level, Aztec West Ruin. Morris noted that Room 189 “contained the largest quantity...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Brushes, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #7735 and #7734 . Morris FS 1327 and FS 1328. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Cord-wrapped brushes, yucca and bast. Image: AMNH 29.0-7735_7734A: cord-wrapped brushes. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 48, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 48 at the time of excavation is as follows. “The floor was covered with refuse.. The greater proportion of this deposit was of vegetable substance; cornstalks, husks, tassels, and cobs,...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Carbonized Basket, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #6795. Morris FS 405. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Carbonized coiled basket base, 2 rod and welt/bundle, bunched. Image: AMNH 29.0-6795 A: carbonized coiled basket base in plaster mount. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Kiva D, Aztec West Ruin. Morris describes Kiva D as having “been burned before its original contents were removed….Quantities of charcoal covered the floor. The adobe from the roof was fused in places and in others...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Carbonized Basket, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #6793. Morris FS 403. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Carbonized coil basket fragments, 2 rod and welt/bundle, bunched. Image: AMNH 29.0/6793A: carbonized basket, upper is one rod, remainder are two rod-and-bundle. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Kiva D, Aztec West Ruin. Morris describes Kiva D as having “been burned before its original contents were removed….Quantities of charcoal covered the floor. The adobe from the roof was fused...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Carbonized cloth, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #7461. Morris FS 1054. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Scrap of carbonized 1/1 plain weave cotton cloth. Image: AMNH 29.0/7461A: scrap of carbonized plain-weave cotton cloth. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Kiva G, Aztec West Ruin. Morris (1924:213) indicates that “Storm-deposited sandy earth covered the floor of Kiva G to a depth of from 6 inches at the center to 3 feet against the walls. From the south side to the center this material...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Carbonized Cloth, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #7997. Morris FS 1574. CULTURALLY SENSITIVE: NAGPRA ARTIFACT; ACCESS RESTRICTED. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Box of carbonized cotton, plain and twill weave, fragments. Images: AMNH 29.0-7997A: carbonized cloth fragments in box. AMNH 29.0-7997B: carbonized fragment of plain-weave cloth. AMNH 29.0-7997C: carbonized probable twill-weave cloth. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 41, Grave 16, Aztec West Ruin. Morris (1928:300)...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Carbonized Cloth, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #7995. Morris FS 1572. CULTURALLY SENSITIVE: NAGPRA ARTIFACT; ACCESS RESTRICTED. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Box of 1/1 plain weave, carbonized cotton cloth fragments. Images: AMNH 29.0/7995A: carbonized cotton plain-weave cloth. AMNH 29.0/7995B: carbonized cotton plain-weave cloth, with flash. Recovered from Earl Morris' excavation of Room 41, Grave 16, Aztec West Ruin. Morris (1928:300) indicates that “Conditions in Room 41 are given in...

IMAGE Laurie Webster.

Carbonized Fabric, Accession AMNH29.0, Catalog #6786. Morris FS 396. CULTURALLY SENSITIVE: NAGPRA ARTIFACT; ACCESS RESTRICTED. Analyzed by Laurie Webster, 2006. Carbonized sandal and cotton fabric fragments from child burial. Images: AMNH 29.0/6786_1A: fragments of carbonized cotton 2-1 twill-weave cloth. AMNH 29.0/6786_3B: carbonized twined sandal fragment. AMNH 29.0/6786_1C: close-up of seamed piece of cloth. AMNH 29.0/6786_1D: close-up of another seamed piece of cloth. Recovered from Earl...