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Flattop Site

Archaeology
Near Holbrook, Arizona
2.4 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

Directions OpenStreetMap

The Flattop Site, a prehistoric village site inside Petrified Forest National Park, lies near Holbrook, AZ, about 1.9 miles off the old road. People of the Basketmaker II culture lived here from roughly AD 1 to 300, in a cluster of around 25 pit-houses. Listed on the National Register, it adds a sense of deep time to a Route 66 drive past the Painted Desert.

What is Flattop Site?

About 25 pit-houses make up the site. Archaeologist Fred Wendorf dug here in 1949 and 1950 and recovered around fourteen projectile points. On a return trip in 1953 he found Adamana brown, a plain brown pottery tied to the later Basketmaker III culture.

Visiting Flattop Site: tips

The site is inside the national park, about 1.9 miles off Route 66; ask park staff about access before heading out. Restrooms are about 0.6 miles away. The Painted Desert Inn is about 1.1 miles off, and the Painted Desert Community Complex about 2 miles.

Practical info

On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

On the map

Flattop Site with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.

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Stops near Flattop Site

Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, AZ

Petrified Forest National Park

Holbrook, Arizona · 2.4 mi from Route 66

Fossil wood, painted badlands and open grassland in a national park that old Route 66 once crossed.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

0.0 mi from Flattop Site

Painted Desert Inn near Holbrook, AZ

Painted Desert Inn

Holbrook, Arizona · 1.6 mi from Route 66

A 1937 Pueblo Revival lodge on the rim of the Painted Desert, now a National Historic Landmark.

Historic hotelPhoto credit

1.1 mi from Flattop Site

Painted Desert Community Complex Historic District near Holbrook, AZ

Painted Desert Community Complex Historic District

Holbrook, Arizona · 0.4 mi from Route 66

Richard Neutra's 1960s modernist headquarters for Petrified Forest National Park.

Historic districtPhoto credit

2.0 mi from Flattop Site

Route 66 Pullout near Holbrook, AZ

Route 66 Pullout

Holbrook, Arizona · 0.2 mi from Route 66

A roadside pullout from 2006 that honors Route 66, on Petrified Forest Road near the Painted Desert Inn.

Route 66 sitePhoto credit

2.5 mi from Flattop Site

Adamana, Arizona

Adamana

Adamana, Arizona · 3.4 mi from Route 66

The former railroad stop where travelers once stepped off the train to see the Petrified Forest.

Ghost townPhoto credit

7.7 mi from Flattop Site

Puerco Ruin and Petroglyphs near Holbrook, AZ

Puerco Ruin and Petroglyphs

Holbrook, Arizona · 4.3 mi from Route 66

The largest known archeological site in Petrified Forest National Park: a pueblo of more than 100 rooms.

ArchaeologyPhoto credit

7.8 mi from Flattop Site

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