Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment
Pueblo IV to 1672 Spanish mission·Tompiro Pueblo / Salinas Spanish Missions (Franciscan)·🇺🇸 New Mexico, Torrance County, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Gran Quivira, Chupadera Mesa, United States
About
About Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment
Gran Quivira excavated by Vivian & Toulouse 1923, 1672 drought depopulation 16,000 to 0. Recorded context — Period: Pueblo IV to 1672 Spanish mission; Culture: Tompiro Pueblo / Salinas Spanish Missions (Franciscan); Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone, adobe mission; Condition: preserved — NPS.
Why it mattersKey Tompiro Pueblo / Salinas Spanish Missions (Franciscan) ancient-village with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Construction labor organization
Theories
- 01Defensive stronghold
- 02Seasonal gathering
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1300 CE pueblo; 1629 mission San Isidro; 1659 San Buenaventura
- Period
- Pueblo IV to 1672 Spanish mission
- Culture
- Tompiro Pueblo / Salinas Spanish Missions (Franciscan)
- Purpose
- 1500-room limestone pueblos on mesa with 2 Franciscan churches — Salinas abandonment drought 1670–72 ghost city
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1923
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment
c. 1300 CE pueblo; 1629 mission San Isidro; 1659 San Buenaventura
Initial construction / first occupation at Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
34.2610° N · 106.0930° W · 1980 m · 3 mapped features
- Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment — subsidiary complex34.2621° N · 106.0918° W
- Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment — subsidiary complex34.2615° N · 106.0932° W
- Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Gran Quivira — Las Humanas Tompiro Pueblo Abandonment — subsidiary complex34.2602° N · 106.0923° W
Gallery