Big Bead Mesa (Navajo: Yoo'tsoh ) is the historic Navajo residence site near Grants, New Mexico, at Cibola National Forest. Occupied from the mid-18th century until the early 19th century, this site provided an important window into the relationship between Navajo and Puebloans at the time. First explored archeologically in 1939, it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
Video Big Bead Mesa
Description
The Big Bead Mesa site is located in a remote area between Grants, New Mexico and Jemez Pueblo in northwestern Albuquerque. The main area of ​​the site is located along the northeast edge of a large mesa, which stretches northeast from Grants and includes Mount Taylor. The name of this site comes from the fossil beads found in the mesa base in significant quantities by the local Navajo.
The site consists of large fortified villages, with approximately 90 identified hogan sites. It extends along two mesa tongues, separated by a complicated arroyo ravine. Hogans are grouped into small groups, each of which is accompanied by secondary structures such as sweat huts, food cache areas, and bastions. In two places there is an open formation which is interpreted as a dance base used for ceremonial purposes. The castle includes a wide wall that almost cuts a part of the settlement. Access to areas under the mesa rim is possible, but it may be necessary to use stairs.
The site was occupied by Navajo from around 1745 to 1812. At that time, they allied themselves with Apache, and the site presented a threatening posture to the nearby Jemez and Acoma Puebloan neighborhoods. This site is an important window into the Navajo movement and their relationship with the surrounding tribes.
Maps Big Bead Mesa
See also
- List of Historic Historic Places of Interest in Sandoval County, New Mexico
- List of National Historic Sites in New Mexico
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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