Last updated: January 12, 2025
Place
Aztec Butte: The Value of Storage
J. Carver
Quick Facts
Location:
Island in the Sky
Significance:
Wayside Panel
Amenities
1 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
The human history of Canyonlands isn’t obvious to most visitors. However, people have traveled, traded, and thrived here for millennia. Tucked in a sheltered alcove below, two 900-year-old stone structures bear testament to the fortitude of these Indigenous people.
What drew the ancient builders to this site? The rock overhanging provides protection from the elements, while the unobstructed view may imbue this place with power. The structures – which archeologist call granaries- may have had various uses over time, including storing ceremonial supplies, medicines, or caches of food gathered or grown nearby.
Storage secures the hope of return. Items they stored here might have eased a traveler’s burdens. Those items also belonged here, imbued with the power of this place.
Visit with Respect Entering, touching or climbing on archaeological sites is strictly prohibited. Stone and mortar walls that have stood for hundreds of years are crumbling today beneath the hands and feet of curious visitors. Leave no trace of your visit. Help ensure these structures keep standing, reflecting the strength of the people who lived in this desert long ago.
Photo insert caption: Entries to granaries were typically covered by stone slabs. Mud and clay were added to seal the opening and camouflage the cache with the cliffs, hiding it from people passing nearby.
What drew the ancient builders to this site? The rock overhanging provides protection from the elements, while the unobstructed view may imbue this place with power. The structures – which archeologist call granaries- may have had various uses over time, including storing ceremonial supplies, medicines, or caches of food gathered or grown nearby.
Storage secures the hope of return. Items they stored here might have eased a traveler’s burdens. Those items also belonged here, imbued with the power of this place.
Visit with Respect Entering, touching or climbing on archaeological sites is strictly prohibited. Stone and mortar walls that have stood for hundreds of years are crumbling today beneath the hands and feet of curious visitors. Leave no trace of your visit. Help ensure these structures keep standing, reflecting the strength of the people who lived in this desert long ago.
Photo insert caption: Entries to granaries were typically covered by stone slabs. Mud and clay were added to seal the opening and camouflage the cache with the cliffs, hiding it from people passing nearby.