Near Mountainair in Socorro County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Pricklypear

Nopal

— Opuntia erinacea - Cactus family —

Pricklypear Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 10, 2025

1. Pricklypear Marker

Inscription. The pricklypear was an important food source here at Las Humanas. The Puebloans ate the juicy fruits, called tunas, after singing them over an open fire. They also boiled and ate the pads after removing the spines.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 34° 15.548′ N, 106° 5.603′ W. Marker is near Mountainair, New Mexico, in Socorro County. It is on Wsmr S Rte 41 south of New Mexico Route 55. The marker is located on the grounds of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - Gran Quivíra Ruins. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Claunch NM 87011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico and in the Rio Grande 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

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker: Power from the sun (here, next to this marker); Four-wing saltbush (a few steps from this marker); Walkingstick cholla (a few steps from this marker); Gran Quivira (a few steps from this marker); One-seed juniper (within shouting distance of this marker); Soaptree yucca (within shouting distance of this marker); Las Misiones de los Pueblos de Salinas (within shouting distance of this marker); Exploring Las Humanas / Explorando Las Humanas (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountainair.

Pricklypear Marker (left side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 10, 2025

2. Pricklypear Marker (left side)

The view of the Pricklypear Marker along the trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 10, 2025

3. The view of the Pricklypear Marker along the trail

Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.