Three Rivers in Otero County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Adobe Surface House

Photographed by James Hulse, June 25, 2024

1. Adobe Surface House Marker

Inscription. As this village grew, the people stopped building pit houses and started building adobe surface houses. These sometimes had several connected rooms. Three rooms have been excavated to show how these people might have lived. A family normally used one room as a kitchen, living room and bedroom. Adjoining rooms may have been used for storing food. The rooms were small, but the original occupants had no furniture. Beds were simply mats on the floor. The people probably spent most of their time outdoors. Usually the people buried their dead beneath the floors of their houses. During the rebuilding of these rooms, two such burials were found beneath the floor.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 33° 20.593′ N, 106° 0.348′ W. Marker is in Three Rivers, New Mexico, in Otero County. It is on County Road B030 4.7 miles east of U.S. 54. The marker is located at the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site along the hiking trail on the south side of the 3

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River Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 455 3 Rivers Road, Tularosa NM 88352, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Home - 1000 Years Ago (a few steps from this marker); Building of a Later Period (a few steps from this marker); Leave Only Footprints (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Prehistoric Village (about 400 feet away); The First People (approx. 0.2 miles away); Three Rivers Petroglyph Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sacramento Mountains (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tularosa Basin (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Three Rivers.

Also see . . . Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. Bureau of Land Management

The Three Rivers Petroglyphs are outstanding
Photographed by James Hulse, June 25, 2024

2. The Adobe Surface House and Marker
examples of prehistoric Jornada Mogollon rock art. The basaltic ridge rising above the Three Rivers Valley contains over 21,000 petroglyphs, including masks, sunbursts, wildlife, handprints, and geometric designs. The number and concentration of petroglyphs make this one of the largest and most interesting rock art sites in the Southwest. A rugged 0.5-mile trail (Petroglyph Trail) begins at the visitor shelter and links many of the most interesting petroglyphs. Another short trail (Village Trail) begins on the east side of the picnic area and leads to a partially excavated prehistoric village.

The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is one of the few locations in the Southwest set aside solely because of its rock art. It is also one of the few sites giving visitors such direct access to petroglyphs. The number and concentration of petroglyphs here make it one of the largest and most interesting petroglyphs sites in the Southwest. More than 21,000 glyphs of birds, humans, animals, fish, insects and plants, as well as numerous geometric and abstract designs are scattered over 50 acres of New Mexico's northern Chihuahuan Desert. The petroglyphs
Photographed by James Hulse, June 25, 2024

3. The view of the Adobe Surface House Marker with the mountains behind them
at Three Rivers, dating back to between about 200-1450 AD, were created by Jornada Mogollon people who used stone tools to remove the dark patina on the exterior of the rock. A small pithouse is nearby and Sierra Blanca towers above to the east. A detailed petroglyph guide is available at the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site.

(Submitted on July 12, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Closeup view of the Adobe Surface House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, June 25, 2024

4. Closeup view of the Adobe Surface House

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 190 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 12, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.