Pot Creek Cultural Site facts for kids
The Pot Creek Cultural Site is an old pueblo that was left empty a long time ago. It was built in the 1200s. This special place is found in Taos County, New Mexico. Part of the site is on land owned by Southern Methodist University. Another part is on public land in the Carson National Forest.
Contents
Where is Pot Creek Cultural Site?
The site is in the Rio Grande valley. It is surrounded by the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The land here is about 2,195 meters (7,200 feet) high. The people who lived here got their water from two streams. These were the Rio Grande del Rancho and the Rio del la Olla, also known as Pot Creek.
What Was the Pueblo Like?
Pot Creek was a large adobe pueblo. It had a big central plaza and a large kiva. Kivas are special underground rooms used for ceremonies. There were also smaller plazas. The pueblo had many rooms, some built several stories high.
People lived here mostly between 1260 and 1320 CE. Experts believe it looked a lot like Taos Pueblo. The ground floor had about 400 rooms. These rooms were likely used for storage. The rooms on higher floors were where people lived.
The pueblo was probably lived in for about three generations. Its largest population was around 1310. Around 1318, a very large kiva was being built. But it was never finished. It seems the pueblo was left empty around 1320. The southern part of the site was even burned down. The people who lived here moved to nearby Picuris Pueblo and Taos Pueblo.
Daily Life at Pot Creek
The people at Pot Creek ate mostly corn, squash, and beans. They grew these foods themselves. They also hunted bison and other local animals. Wild plants were also part of their diet.
They were skilled at making their own pottery. Gray pottery was used for cooking meals. They also made beautiful black-on-white pottery. Tools were made from stone and animal bones.
Southern Methodist University has been studying this site for over 50 years. They learn a lot about the people who lived here.
Visiting the Site
A part of the Pot Creek pueblo is in the Carson National Forest. This part is open for visitors from June to September. It's easy to get to, just about 50 yards from a parking area. You can find it on Highway 518 at milepost 66.4. There's also a picnic area and restrooms for visitors.
You can walk a one-mile loop trail. Along the trail, signs explain how the pueblo residents lived. The trail also leads to a recreated pueblo room and a kiva. This helps you imagine what life was like long ago.
Images for kids
-
Pot Creek Trail Map
-
Pot Creek Trail
-
Pot Creek Pueblo Room and Kiva
-
Pot Creek Sign
