Historical Introduction to Studies Among the Sedentary Indians of New Mexico; Report on the Ruins of the Pueblo of Pecos: Papers Of The Archæological Institute Of America, American Series, Vol. IBandelier, Adolph Francis Alphonse
History
Historical Introduction to Studies Among the Sedentary Indians of New Mexico; Report on the Ruins of the Pueblo of Pecos: Papers Of The Archæological Institute Of America, American Series, Vol. I
Bandelier, Adolph Francis Alphonse
New Mexico -- Antiquities; Pecos National Monument (N.M.); Pueblo Indians
If now we compare these localities in 1540 with the present
sites of the pueblos of New Mexico, it is self-evident that the
Zuñi, Acoma, Tiguas, Queres, Jemez, Tehua, and Taos still
occupy (Acoma excepted), if not the identical houses, at
least the same tribal grounds. The Piros have removed
to the frontier of Mexico, the Pecos are extinct as a tribe;
of the Tanos and Picuries, a few remain on their ancient
soil. Their fate is not a matter of conjecture, but of historical
record.
While this discussion has proved, we believe, the truthfulness
and reliability of the chroniclers of Coronado's expedition,
and their great importance for the history of American
aborigines, it establishes at the same time the superior
advantages of New Mexico as a field for archæological and
ethnological study. It is the only region on the whole continent
where the highest type of culture attained by its aborigines--the
village community in stone or adobe buildings--has
been preserved on the respective territories of the tribes.
These tribes have shrunk, the purity of their stock has been
affected, their customs and beliefs encroached upon by civilization.
Still enough is left to make of New Mexico the objective
point of serious, practical archæologists; for, besides the
living pueblo Indians, besides the numerous ruins of their
past, the very history of the changes they have undergone is
partly in existence, and begins three hundred and forty years
ago, with Coronado's adventurous march.[86]
AD. F. BANDELIER.
SANTA FÉ, N. M., Sept. 19, 1880.
NOTE.
THE GRAND QUIVIRA. See p. 26.
The following extract is from the "General Description" in the
field-notes of the survey in 1872 of the base line of the public surveys
in New Mexico by United States Deputy Surveyor Willison, taken from the
original notes on file at the United States Surveyor General's office at
Santa Fé:--
"The Gran Quivira, about which so much has been written and
so many attempts made to reconcile with the city of that
name spoken of by the early Spanish explorers, and which was
said by them to be the seat of immense wealth, is passed
through by the line in Sec. 34, range 8 East. The most
prominent building is the church, which, as well as all the
other buildings, is of limestone laid in mortar. The ground
plan presents the form of a cross. The dimensions of the
buildings are as follows:--
"Width of short arm of cross, 33 feet; width of long arm of
cross, 42 feet. Their axes are respectively 48 feet long and
140.5 feet long, and their intersection 35 feet from the
head of the cross. The walls have a thickness of 6 feet, and
a height of about 30 feet. The main entrance has a height of
11 feet, an outside width of 11 feet, and an inside width of
16.5 feet. The church is situated due east and west, having
its front to the east.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account