Native People Knew the Old Spanish Trail

Native People Knew the Old Spanish Trail. . , For centuries before the Spanish arrived in the Southwest, native peoples traded goods across the network of routes that became the Old Spanish Trail. The Spanish called all the first people "Indians", later identifying them as Pueblos, Apaches, Utahs, Pah-Utahs, Navajos, Mohaves, Chemehuevis and many others., Most of the native people raised crops in small or large gardens, gathered plants and small animals, and hunted large game. Native people from the California coast traded with desert and mountain people. The coastal people brought shells and soapstone, taking deer hides, salt, turquoise and dried foods in return. New Mexican pueblo peoples had a long history of trading with the Utes for deerskins., When the Old Spanish Trail opened vast areas of Utah, Nevada and California to New Mexican traders, trade increased and so did kidnapping. Many native people, especially women and children, were captured and sold to ranchers and miners in California and New Mexico. Southern Palutes had no guns, few horses, and were frequent targets. During this period, Las Vegas Valley Paiutes hid from travelers, who often reported meeting no one along the trail here., (caption:) Paiutes made efficient use of scant building materials for shelter. - Special Collections, Lied Library, UNLV, (caption:) Paiute women wore basketry hats. This photos was taken by Hiller during the Powell expedition of 1873. - Special Collections, Lied Library, UNLV, (caption:) This 1904 photos shows some of the basketery made by Paiute women the Las Vegas Valley. - Special Collections, Lied Library, UNLV