Sunset Crater, the youngest cinder cone in the San Francisco volcanic field, burst into life about 950 years ago. Ash fall and lava flows that accompanied the eruption disrupted the settlements of Sinagua Indians living there.
The Sinagua moved from the Sunset area to what is now Wupatki National Monument. They practiced dry farming and exploited the fresh Sunset Crater ash fall as mulch. The Sinagua abandoned these pueblos sometime before the Spanish first appeared in the 16th century.
Photographer: Mike Conway
Photo Date: October 2013