Chaco Canyon Frog

A weather-worn Zuñi fetish? Yes. But it’s 900 years old. How can that be? It’s a fascinating story.

In 1897 during an archaeological dig, this carving was found inside a pottery bowl at Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon, now one of only a small number of World Heritage Sites in the U.S.A. Chaco Canyon is located in a remote area in the northwest corner of New Mexico. Each of the two access roads is over 30 miles of gravel.

Soon after the frog was unearthed and placed on display, it disappeared. Luckily, it was soon found 50 miles away by an employee at a trading post, who purchased it for a minimal price and then returned it to the collection of artifacts. The frog and all the other unearthed artifacts are now housed at American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

How did a Zuñi fetish end up 126 miles from Zuñi 900 years ago? Chaco Canyon was a cultural and religious center for Indigenous peoples for over 250 years, starting in 900 A.D. Most likely, the Chaco Frog carver obtained jet from Acoma Pueblo and either made it at home or during his sojourn at Chaco Canyon. Perhaps the jet was obtained there, where many different materials were available. A replica of the Chaco Canyon Frog is on display at the Visitor’s Center at Pueblo Bonito.