Frances Canyon Pueblito, Frances Canyon Rincon, Dulce, Rio Arriba County, NM

Significance: Frances Canyon Pueblito, one of the largest and best preserved Navajo pueblitos, was occupied after the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. This revolt broke the Spanish hold on Pueblo villages along the Northern Rio Grande. When the Spanish regained control in 1692, many Pueblo groups fled westward to seek refuge with the Navajo. This period is called the Gobernador Phase by archeologists. Excavations at Frances uncovered copper bells, European trade beads, a bone whistle, Spanish tack ornaments, a metal cross, and weaving tools. The structure originally contained twenty-three ground-floor rooms. Structural features include viga and latilla roofs, loopholes, loom fittings, peg holes, plastered walls, and hooded fireplaces. The structure's tower sits on the sandstone edge of a mesa overlooking Frances Creek tributary. The Pueblito's defensive nature is demonstrated in its location along a mesa edge. In the tower's small downward-slanted openings for lookouts, and in a first-floor defensively placed trap doorway. This doorway made unwanted entry to the upper rooms impossible. Tree-ring dates suggest the site was occupied in the latter half of the Gobernador phase, probably between A.D. 1720 and 1750.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N559

Survey number: HABS NM-155

Building/structure dates: ca. 1720- ca. 1750 Initial Construction

pueblos ruins indians of north america archaeology settlement patterns dulce frances canyon pueblito frances canyon pueblito rincon frances canyon rincon rio arriba rio arriba county american indians new mexico manton botsford stephen fosberg roger r goodard historic american buildings survey louann jacobson mira d metzinger evan e miller navajo indians pueblo indians rodney b shaw arnold thallheimer lysa wegman french photo ultra high resolution high resolution ornament library of congress

1750

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted. http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html