Cultural Continuity and Change in the Upper Pecos Valley: The Archaeology of Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos Trail Cafe 2239 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe

Pecos Pueblo was occupied for over six hundred years and was a gateway community connecting the Plains and the Rio Grande Valley. The allure, mysteries, and myths of Pecos have fascinated archaeologists since Bandelier first recorded the site in 1881. The cultural connections to modern Pueblo groups makes it an interesting place to explore cultural continuity and to assess the legends and lore that first drew archaeologists to Pecos at the turn of the 20th century. The presentation will summarize the history of archaeology at the site, future avenues of research, and the many cultural connections that bind modern Pueblo groups to Pecos Pueblo.