Letter E

is for Earl Morris and Excavation.
In 1916, when archaeology was still a new and evolving science with few established rules or techniques, the American Museum of Natural History in New York funded the first excavation of Aztec Ruins conducted with the purpose of understanding the past. The dig was headed by Earl Halstead Morris, an archaeologist now known for his dedication to Southwest archaeology, particularly at Aztec Ruins. He and his team spent the next several seasons excavating and stabilizing the site. During this time, he built a house using some materials from the archaeological site; this house is now the park's visitor center.

In 1934, he returned to supervise the reconstruction of the Great Kiva for the National Park Service. The science of archaeology and the techniques used for excavation have evolved over the past century, but today, thanks in large part to Earl Morris's work, Aztec Ruins continues to offer a glimpse into the life and culture of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here 900 years ago.

Earl Morris found his first artifact at age three, and this experience began his life-long love of archaeology.

  • Source: www.facebook.com/AztecRuinsNM
    • Earl Morris
    Earl Morris circa 1950
    Excavation
    Excavation circa 1916-1921


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