These images are of the Spanish Mission ruins of Abo, Quarai, Gran Quvira, and Pecos. The first three are part of the Salinas Mission group and are south of Albequerque. Pecos is located east of Santa Fe.
People started to build permanent structures in the area where the Salinas missions would be built around 900 AD. Sometime around 1300 these people would be joined by the Mesa Verde Anasazi who would come here to flee from draught. In 1598 the Spanish would arrive in the area and the three missions of Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivera would be built. The native peoples would be forced to sign the "Act of Obedience" which would make them subjects of the Spanish crown. The relationship between these peoples and the Spanish would be turbulent. By the late 1600s draught and disease would finish off the culture in the area. Both native and Spanish alike would be forced to flee.
The Pecos area near Albuquerque would be settled around 800 AD and by 1450 the Pecos Pueblo would be 5 stories high and serve a population as high as 2000 people. They first had contact with the Spanish around 1540 when Francisco Vasquez de Coronado came into the area. Coronado would only stay a short time before looking for fame and fortune in other areas. Permanent contact with the Spanish occured around 1600 and the native peoples were forced to build a mission. In 1680 the Indians revolted in the Pueblo Rebellion and kicked out the Spanish. They then destroyed the mission. The Spanish came back though and forced them to build another one. Over the next century draught, disease, and raiding from neighbors would cause the Pecos area to be abandoned.
All images taken with a Digital Rebel XT with various L lenses.
