Statement of Significance (as of designation - July 19, 1964):
Located on the Hopi Indian Reservation, Awatovi Ruins is the site of one of the most important Hopi Indian villages encountered by Coronado's men in 1540. It contains the remains of a 500-year-old pueblo and a 17th-century Spanish mission complex. Excavations were conducted at the site by the Peabody Museum in the 1930s.

Condition:
Overall, the site is in good condition but there are still some ongoing problems that need to be addressed, such as: Ongoing erosion of exposed walls. If left unchecked, these architectural features will eventually collapse; the site is occasionally visited without permission by tourists and, as a result, surface artifacts are being lost. There are no indications of recent, illicit excavations.

Changes since last report: A perimeter fence has been installed around Awatovi Ruins. This installation has prevented livestock from wandering over the site and, as a result, there is much less damage to fragile architectural features. The archeological survey of Antelope Mesa is now completed. This survey has identified a large number of archeological sites that hold a direct association with Awatovi Ruins, thus are considered to be contributing elements to this NHL. Some of the room blocks that were exposed by early 20th century excavations are now backfilled. A management plan for Awatovi Ruins is now being reviewed by Hopi officials.

Recommendation/Change since last report:
Once implemented, the management plan will provide long-term guidance for protecting Awatovi Ruin. Application for a Challenge Cost Share grant is recommended, the funding would be applied toward backfilling the remaining room blocks.