Investigations at the Wetherill Trading Post
Early archaeological research at Chaco was closely linked to the establishment of a trading post at Pueblo Bonito by Richard Wetherill in the late 1890s. The main trading post complex was located at the Southwest corner of Pueblo Bonito but associated structures were built all around the site, including a large earthen reservoir.
In 2007 and 2008 the Chaco Stratigraphy Project conducted limited excavations in the trading post area in order to determine the reason for subsurface erosion that had created a large hole adjacent to the visitor trail. The erosion created a hazardous situation for visitors and the Park Service required information about the cause of the erosion before filling in the hole. Excavations determined that the erosion was occurring along the outer wall of a rock-lined well that had been intentionally filled with refuse from the early 20th century. Archival information indicates that the well was probably constructed in 1900 and was not in use for very long before it was abandoned.
Wetherill trading post 1899
North-South Wall and Well
Perry Lown
Scott Worman and Amy Dunn
Screening Fill From Well
W.H. Wills and Julia Clark
