In 1598, northern New Mexico was as remote an outpost of European culture as could be imagined. The Spanish had been established in New Spain (Mexico) for only three generations, and the new settlement of San Gabriel was hundreds of miles beyond the prior frontier of Spanish settlement. The 400 colonists set forth in a train of 83 wagons and carts, driving a giant herd of livestock. One they arrived at their destination they were mostly on their own; supply caravans were a rare event.
Given the new colony's isolation, it's not surprising that colonists relied on the local Pueblos for food and other goods, or that they adopted elements of Pueblo life (such as the local adobe architecture). At the same time, they brought along the types of objects they needed to maintain their Spanish identity and their roles as conquerors and bearers of a new religion. Some of their belongings were discovered at San Gabriel three and a half centuries later. You can find out more about those belongings by clicking on the thumbnails.
By archaeological standards, San Gabriel is an almost perfect "time
capsule." The settlement existed for such a short time that mixing of
objects of different ages isn't a problem (as often happens at sites
used for many decades or centuries). The site thus provides an
excellent understanding of the material life of Spanish colonists in
northern New Spain about 1600.
San Gabriel path (click on arrows)
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Page last revised on September 16, 2015. Please report problems to toh@unm.edu