Bernalillo in Sandoval County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Successful Agriculture

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

1. Successful Agriculture Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Kuaua was established by people well versed in the requirements for successful agriculture. The Rio Grande provided a dependable supply of water for both fields and family. The water of the Rio Grande and the rich slopes of the Sandia Mountains to the east also attracted wildlife that provided meat for the village.

When you look out toward the waters of the Rio Grande, imagine many small agricultural fields taking up all of the land to the river, that in the 1500s was more than a quarter mile further to the east.

Spanish:
Kuaua fue establecida por gente bien enterada en los requisitos necesarios para una agricultura exitosa. El Río Grande proveía un abastecimiento de agua seguro tanto para los campos como para la familia. El agua del Río Grande y las ricas laderas de las Sandia Mountains al este atraían también la caza que abastecía al pueblo de carne.

Cuando mire hacia las aguas del Río Grande, imagine muchos pequeños campos de labranza ocupando toda la tierra hasta el río, que en el siglo XVI estaba situado más de una cuarta milla al este.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic

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lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 35° 19.821′ N, 106° 33.394′ 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 in this post office area: 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: Coronado's Expedition (here, next to this marker); Another Smaller Square Kiva at Kuaua (a few steps from this marker); They are all well built with straight, well-squared walls (within shouting distance of this marker); Kuaua Ruins

The view of the Marker (left side) with the Sandia Mountains in the background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

2. The view of the Marker (left side) with the Sandia Mountains in the background

(within shouting distance of this marker); Archaeological excavations / Excavaciones arqueológicas (within shouting distance of this marker); The Siege of Kuaua (within shouting distance of this marker); El Pueblo de Kuaua / Kuaua Pueblo (within shouting distance of this marker); Pueblo (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bernalillo.

More about this marker. There is a small fee to visit the Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site).

Also see . . . 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.)

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 94 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.