Excavations at Kinishba Pueblo, Arizona

Abstract

The group of ruins comprising the prehistoric pueblo of Kinishba is situated in a broad valley about four miles northwest of the town of Fort Apache, Arizona, on the White River Apache Indian Reservation. Kinishba, the Apache name for this pueblo meaning “Brown House,” is derived from the color of the rock walls of the ruin. The valley is bounded on all sides by high plateaus and mesas, with the White River cutting across from east to west at the southern end. The valley floor is thickly covered with grass, cholla, and juniper, while the surrounding hills support a fairly heavy stand of pine, pinyon, and juniper.