Coronado Historic Site

The Coronado State Monument is located in the U.S. state of New Mexico, approximately 30 km north of Albuquerque or directly on the northern outskirts of Bernalillo. The park was made ​​in 1940 as State Monument under special protection.

Was named the State Monument by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. This sought in New Mexico for gold. It is believed that Coronado near the Kuaua Pueblo opened a warehouse in 1540.

The Coronado State Monument includes ruins of the former Kuaua Pueblos. In the period from the 14th to the 16th century settled Indians from the tribe of Tiwa in the area of Bernalillo. Kuaua is the Tiwa word for " evergreen ". The Kuaua Pueblo was the northernmost of 12 Tiwa settlements and is in close proximity to the Rio Grande. In the 16th century the inhabitants were decimated due to clashes with the Spanish colonialists and Plains Indians from the Navajo tribe and the pueblo was abandoned.

In the 1930s, remnants of the Kuaua Pueblos were especially excavated by archaeologists Gordon Vivian and Margery Tichy. Currently the buildings are of predominantly only reconstructed foundations to see. Two small buildings made ​​of adobe were built in the style of the 16th century and can be entered.

In 1935, archaeologists discovered Tichy Vivian and the remains of a kiva. The special feature of this Fund were extensive murals on the inner walls of the exposed Kiva. During the backup, the murals, the Kiva was unfortunately largely destroyed. On the foundations of the original Kiva a new Kiva ( Painted Kiva ) was built in 1938. In this Kiva of Native artists Velino Herrera Shije (1902-1973) brought replicas on the inner wall.

To prevent damage to the Kiva, the building may be entered only with a park ranger.