Bernalillo in Sandoval County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Another Smaller Square Kiva at Kuaua
Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025
1. Another Smaller Square Kiva at Kuaua Marker
The depression in front of you has a distinctly square appearance. This depression revealed the occurrence of yet another smaller square kiva at Kuaua. This kiva was excavated in the 1930s but was immediately backfilled to protect its damaged walls. This structure relates to the later occupation of this community and may have been built by people connected to the community members that constructed the square kivas in the south plaza area. Though remnants of paintings were also identified on these kiva walls, the walls were heavily eroded and no retrieval of images was possible.La depresión que se encuentra al frente tiene una apariencia claramente cuadrada. Esta depresión reveló la existencia de otra kiva cuadrada todavía más pequeña en Kuaua. Esta kiva fue excavada en los años 1930 pero fue inmediatamente rellenada para proteger sus deterioradas paredes. Esta estructura pertenece a la ocupación más tardía de esta comunidad y puede haber sido construida por personas relacionadas a los miembros de la comunidad que construyeron las kivas cuadradas en el área de la plaza sur. Aunque se identificaron restos de pinturas en los muros de esta kiva, los muros estaban severamente erosionados y no fue posible la recuperación de imágenes.
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Location. 35° 19.826′ N, 106° 33.4′ W. Marker is in Bernalillo, New Mexico, in Sandoval County. It is on Kuaua Road half a mile east of U.S. 550. The marker is located in the Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 485 Kuaua Rd, Bernalillo NM 87004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the San Juan Basin and in Greater Albuquerque. It is also in the American Southwest and at the Four Corners. 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 and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Successful Agriculture (a few steps from this marker); Coronado's Expedition (a few steps from this marker); They are all well built with straight, well-squared walls
Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025
2. Another Smaller Square Kiva at Kuaua and Marker
More about this marker. There is a small fee to visit the Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site).
Also see . . .
1. Coronado Historic Site. New Mexico Historic Sites
Coronado Historic Site and the ancient Kuaua Pueblo are located just minutes north of Albuquerque (off of I-25, Exit 242) in Bernalillo. In 1540, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado—with 500 soldiers and 2,000 Indigenous allies from New Spain—entered the Rio Grande valley somewhere near this site. Coronado was searching for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold.(Submitted on May 26, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
2. Kiva. Wikipedia
A kiva (also estufa) is a space used by Puebloans for rites and political meetings, many of them associated with the kachina belief system. Among the modern Hopi and most other Pueblo peoples, "kiva" means a large room that is circular and underground, and used for spiritual ceremonies and a place of worship.(Submitted on May 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 142 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
