Tonto National Monument is a
National Monument
A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure.
The term may also refer to a spec ...
in the
Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for ...
, in
Gila County
Gila County ( ) is in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,272. The county seat is Globe.
Gila County comprises the Payson, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Gila County contains p ...
of central
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. The area lies on the northeastern edge of the
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert ( es, Desierto de Sonora) is a desert in North America and ecoregion that covers the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, as well as part of the southwestern United States (in Arizona ...
ecoregion, an arid
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
with annual rainfall of about 16 inches (400 mm).
Roosevelt 1 WNW, Arizona – Climate Summary
Western Regional Climate Center. The Salt River runs through this area, providing a rare, year-round source of water.
Cliff dwellings
Well-preserved cliff dwelling
In archaeology, cliff dwellings are dwellings formed by using niches or caves in high cliffs, and sometimes with excavation or additions in the way of masonry.
Two special types of cliff dwelling are distinguished by archaeologists: the cliff ...
s were occupied by the Salado culture
Salado culture, or Salado Horizon, Todd Bostwick of Pueblo Grande Museum, "Salado Summary". was a human culture in the upper Salt River () of the Tonto Basin in southeastern Arizona from approximately 1150 CE through the 15th century.
Distingu ...
during the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries. The people farmed in the Salt River Valley
The Salt River Valley is an extensive valley on the Salt River in central Arizona, which contains the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Although this geographic term still identifies the area, the name "Valley of the Sun" popularly replaced the usage ...
, and supplemented their diet by hunting and gathering native plants. The Salado were fine craftspeople, producing some of the most flamboyant polychrome pottery and intricately woven textiles to be found in the Southwest. Some of the artifacts excavated nearby are on display in the visitor center
A visitor center or centre (see American and British English spelling differences), visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to visitors.
Types of visitor center
A visit ...
museum.
The Tonto National Monument Archeological District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
on October 15, 1966. Tonto National Monument, Lower Ruin and Tonto National Monument, Upper Ruin are archeological sites
An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and ...
that were NRHP-listed in 1989.[
]
Natural history
The National Monument is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest
The Tonto National Forest, encompassing , is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the ninth largest national forest in the United States. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet (427 m) in ...
, which includes low plains, desert scrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominance (ecology), dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, Herbaceous plant, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or ...
, and alpine pine forests.
The Upper Sonoran ecosystem
An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...
is known for its characteristic saguaro
The saguaro (, ) (''Carnegiea gigantea'') is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus ''Carnegiea'' that can grow to be over tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains a ...
cacti. Other common plants include: cholla, prickly pear, hedgehog, and barrel cactus (flowering from April to June); yucca
''Yucca'' is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flo ...
, sotol, and agave
''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known for ...
; creosote bush
''Larrea tridentata'', called creosote bush and greasewood as a plant, chaparral as a medicinal herb, and ''gobernadora'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "governess") in Mexico, due to its ability to secure more water by inhibiting the growth of n ...
and ocotillo
''Fouquieria splendens'' (commonly known as ocotillo (), but also referred to as buggywhip, coachwhip, candlewood, slimwood, desert coral, Jacob's staff, Jacob cactus, and vine cactus) is a plant indigenous to the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan ...
; palo verde and mesquite
Mesquite is a common name for several plants in the genus ''Prosopis'', which contains over 40 species of small leguminous trees. They are native to dry areas in the Americas.
They have extremely long roots to seek water from very far under grou ...
trees; an amazing variety of colorful wild flowers in good years (February to March); and a lush riparian area which supports large Arizona Walnut, Arizona Sycamore
''Platanus wrightii'', the Arizona sycamore, is a sycamore tree native to Arizona and New Mexico with its range extending south into the Mexican states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa.Laferriere, J.E. Platanaceae, "Sycamore or Plane Tree Fam ...
, and hackberry trees.
It also serves as a home for native animals such as whitetail and mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, three rattlesnake species and many more.
Wilderness areas
The area around Tonto National Monument also includes several designated National Wilderness Area
The National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) of the United States protects federally managed wilderness areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. Activity on formally designated wilderness areas is coordinated by the Na ...
s, including Four Peaks
Four Peaks ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:khoba) is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix. Part of the Mazatzal Mountains, it is located in the Four Peaks Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest, east-northeast of Phoenix. In ...
, Superstition
A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs and ...
, and Salome Wilderness
The Salome Wilderness of Tonto National Forest is a protected area in the rim country of the southwestern US. The Salome Wilderness lies within the Sierra Ancha mountain range in Gila County, Arizona.
Ecology
Prominent perennial streams within t ...
Areas.
Photo gallery
File:TontoNatlMnmt L7 15jun00.jpg, Landsat 7 image of Tonto National Monument (right center), and the surrounding area
File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail2.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, Room detail
File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail4.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, room detail
File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail3.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, room detail
File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, Room detail
File:Tonto-National-Monument,-hand-prints.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, hand prints on wall
File:Tonto-National-Monument-looking-west2.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, looking west
File:Tonto-National-Monument-looking-west.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, looking along west face
File:Tonto-National-Monument,-facing-east.jpg, Tonto National Monument, looking east
Notes
References
*
External links
Apache Trail website: Ancient Cliff Dwellings Info
NPS: official Tonto National Monument website
''Tonto National Monument: Saving a National Treasure''
American Southwest, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary
Tonto National Monument: a traveller's diary
{{authority control
Archaeological sites in Arizona
National Park Service National Monuments in Arizona
Cliff dwellings
Museums in Gila County, Arizona
Native American museums in Arizona
Protected areas of Gila County, Arizona
Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona
Former populated places in Gila County, Arizona
Protected areas established in 1907
1907 establishments in Arizona Territory
Superstition Mountains
Tonto National Forest
National Register of Historic Places in Gila County, Arizona
Populated places on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona
Ancient Puebloan archaeological sites in Arizona