Stop 10: Cerro Del Medio

Scattered obsidian flakes on the ground

NPS

Cerro del Medio began erupting approximately 1.1 million years ago and continued for about 25,000 years. Its lava flows created very high-quality obsidian for human use. A very sharp and shiny black rock, obsidian can be fashioned or “knapped” into tools, spear points, and arrowheads. It was also used as a form of currency, traded across long distances in the Americas. Hear Chris Toya and Brophy Toledo talk about the uses of obsidian and how not just the Hemish, but many Puebloan peoples came together in Obsidian Valley, in between Cerro del Medio and Cerros del Abrigo.