Stop 13: Banco Bonito

The landscape within Banco Bonito is vastly different than the valles.

Photo: NPS/Coco Rae

According to oral tradition, shortly after the Hemish people moved to the area, they established high altitude farming for corn, beans, and squash in the microclimates of Banco Bonito. To this day, this is the site of the highest elevation field houses ever discovered at approximately 8,000 feet. While archaeologists and visitors are amazed at this success, Chris Toya emphasizes that careful knowledge and stewardship enabled Hemish farming and that the Hemish people are still proud farmers today.