≡ Menu

Seshukwa ruins

This was a wonderful ruin.  High on a sharp ridgeline near 8,000’, in the Santa Fe National Forest, it’s surrounded by pines and enjoys both good views and breezes.  If I had to live in the Jemez, I wouldn’t be upset doing it here.

Seshukwa translates to “Eagle dwelling place”.  Given its location, the name’s appropriate.  It was a large pueblo, with as many as 1,100 rooms and is dated from about 1450 through 1650.

As Jeri and I entered the ruins from the north end, we saw the usual, nondescript rock piles, this time covered with higher elevation brush.  We found a few depressions which were kivas at one time

Then at the southerly end, we came upon standing segments of walls.  That was very cool!  There was a Forest Service stabilization project here in the 1980s, and I expect they focused on these wall segments.

Dropping off the spine of the ridge, there was some rock art beneath the ruins.  Also there was considerable scatter of sherds in this area, presumably from above.

Seshukwa layout (From “Overview and Synthesis of the Archeology of the Jemez Provvince, New Mexico, by M. Elliot, 1986

Seshukwa – Typical rock mounds of fallen walls

Seshukwa – Me, doing a bit of Kiva diving

Seshukwa – Standing walls at southerly end of ruins

Seshukwa – Another standing wall view

Seshukwa – Innocent passing bystander used to provide sense of scale for wall portion

Seshukwa – Rock art below ruin

Seshukwa – More rock art (??) below ruin