Letter V

is for Vandalism.
In the late 1800s, before the Aztec West great house was excavated and before archaeology was an established science, pot hunters, looters, and others wanting to explore the site broke through the walls. They removed many objects like pottery, tools and jewelry. They and early tourists also wrote or carved their names and the dates of their visits into the large wooden vigas that support the ceilings in numerous rooms throughout the site.

Today the doorways connecting the series of rooms visitors walk through along the north wall of the great house are not original; they were created by the Park Service where holes had been broken through the walls. And the 140 year old inscriptions on the vigas are now considered historic and are being studied to learn more about early visitation patterns.

However, today, writing or carving into the beams, plaster, stones or any other part of the structures, breaking walls, or removing stones, wood or other objects, is considered vandalism.

Fortunately, visitors to Aztec Ruins love this place, and we rarely see vandalism. Please continue to help us take care of this and other cultural sites by not creating graffiti, and by staying on the trail and off the walls. Leaning, sitting, or climbing on the walls may not seem to have immediate effects, but over time it can cause serious damage. You can also help by leaving everything as you find it, and reporting any vandalism to a ranger.

  • Source: www.facebook.com/AztecRuinsNM
    • Vandalism
    Look at some of large wooden vigas and you will see writing.


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