Wupatki Ruins Trail, Wupatki National Monument

by Southwest Parks and Monuments Association

7. Ventilator.

The long stone-lined channel, as at Stake No. 5, was used as a ventilator, the opening being at floor level in the cliff wall to your right. The upright slab of stone at the end of the ventilator trench deflected the incoming air so that the draft would not pass directly across the firepit, which was usually situated in the center of the room or work area.

This means of ventilation was not generally used by the Sinagua Indians, having been adopted from the neighboring Anasazi, with whom they had very close contact in this area.