(nr Mountainair NM)
The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument preserves three nearby native pueblos in the Salinas Valley in central New Mexico. Several salt lakes to the east were mined for the salt traded by the early natives.
Salinas Pueblos Pottery
It was a very dry area. So, they survived by dry farming, hunting, gathering plants and nuts, and creating items to be traded with those passing through on the ancient trade route El Camino Real. Their baskets, blankets, pottery, and salt were prized possessions.
Abó Pueblo
When the Spanish arrived in the late 1500s to colonize the area, they established missions in the native villages. Abó was the main mission, and priests travelled to the other two. Of course there was a clash of religions; but, some natives converted to Christianity.
Abó Pueblo
Stone ruins
Quarai Pueblo
Quarai Pueblo also thrived by trading and farming. Here they had a fruit orchard. Unlike Gran Quivira, Abó and Quarai had good water sources. This pueblo was the headquarters for the church Inquisition in New Mexico. Records indicated the priests were fair handed and often chose to protect the natives, as they were considered to be innocents.
Quarai Mission
Field at Quarai
Gran Quivira
The largest of the three, Gran Quivira at first resisted the Spanish. But, eventually learned to get along. A small church was built, and later a large cathedral was begun using native labor. However, it was never finished. This pueblo was noted for its distinctive black-on-white pottery.
Gran Quivira Pueblo
Kiva at Gran Quivira
Eventually an extended drought causing famine, depleted resources, and raids from nomadic Apaches led the pueblos to be abandoned in the 1670s. It’s amazing that they survived in the harsh environment for so long.
Camp: Manzano Mountains SP
Scene: Native pueblos, missions, ruins
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