9-10-97
| Near Highway 55 in the shadow of the Manzano Mountains are the pueblos of the Salinas Valley. I stopped to visit the ruins at Gran Quivira. Before the indians left this area in 1670, they established a stable agricultural society whose members lived in apartment like complexes and participated through rule and ritual in the cycles of nature. Two cultures, the Anasazi and the Mogollon overlapped to produce the Abo, Gran Quivira, and Quarai. The inhabitants ate wild plants, raised turkeys, and hunted rabbits, deer, antelope and bison. They wore breech cloths, bison robes, hides and decorative blankets of cotton and yucca fiber. Their basket weaving and pottery was impressive to the first Spanish explorers. |
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After Spain conquered Mexico, tales of great wealth to the North drew
them to New Mexico. Coronado's expedition in 1540 failed to discover
the fabled land of Quivira. In 1598, Juan de Onate led a party to
New Mexico to build a permanent colony. Spain eventually concluded
that New Mexico would never be profitable but the Pope charged the Spanish
Crown with Christianizing the natives. Phillip II decided to maintain
the colony as a missionary effort. Citizens were appointed
to provide protection and education to the indians in exchange for the
privilege of collecting tribute. The system was abused and the indians
suffered. There were some benefits brought by the Spanish.
Wheat and wheat bread, fruit trees, grapes, cattle, goats and sheep became
a fixed part of the economy.
Eventually, culture and natural disaster devastated the Salinas pueblos. The Apaches raided the pueblos for food in retribution for Spanish slave raids. Drought, famine and epidemics decimated the population and the pueblos were abandoned in the 1670's. |
| My trip has finally come full circle and I arrived back in Ruidoso on September 9th. I have visited 11 states in two countries. I traveled over 6,400 miles in 23 days of riding and viewed some of the most beautiful scenery in North America. I'm already looking forward to the next trip and hope all of you will come along for the ride. | |
