Anasazi State Park Museum

See an ancient ancestral Puebloan Anasazi Village.

Ancestral Puebloan Anasazi Village is located in Southeastern Utah. This village borders the civilization next to Fremont culture and is considered to be the melting pot of both cultures. There are thousands of artifacts that have been found from various excavations here. The University of Utah, Peabody Museum, and park staff have all participated in these excavations. They have found ties from tribes located in Northern Arizona and trade items from Meso America, Chaco, and Western Utah, indicating cross-cultural contact. The Anasazi, from the Navajo definition, means ancient enemy. There have been many debates about the true name of the civilizations, but one agreement they came to is ancestral pueblo. What we do know comes directly from the research. The theory is that they descended from archaic desert culture and possibly migrated from Mesoamerica. They cultivated crops, domesticated turkeys, and were hunter-gatherers. They were skilled potters who did ceramic art.

Clues from the past create opportunities for professionals and non-professionals to piece the puzzle together. Visitors can come to the state park museum and walk along the trails that lead to the excavations sites. You may also practice using the tools they used and experience ancient life, and listen to discussions of the importance of preserving this heritage. The museum is open from 8 am to 6 pm during the summer months (May through September). From September to May, it is open from 9 am to 5 pm. Visitors can also check out the museum store and purchase jewelry, pottery, baskets, books, and more. Guests are encouraged to be respectful and responsible to continue the preservation efforts for generations to come.