Archeology of the lower Mimbres valley, New Mexico

The lower Mimbres Valley of New Mexico hides an enigmatic prehistoric culture whose remnants differ sharply from the more familiar pueblo societies of the Rio Grande. Their architecture, burial practices, and the strikingly painted pottery set them apart, yet very few reliable records exist to explain how these people lived and organized themselves. Because descendants of pure lineage have long vanished and historic documents are scarce, the story must be pieced together from the scattered artifacts that survive.

In 1914 the author led a brief field expedition, excavating sites and acquiring objects that now enrich a national collection. He describes unusual votive offerings to water deities, finely crafted arrowheads and “cloud‑blowers,” and notes the loss of many curios that were shipped abroad as souvenirs. Drawing on early traveler accounts, the report offers a careful, visual snapshot of a culture that has remained largely overlooked by archaeologists.