new acquisition AN ANCIENT SITE IS REDISCOVERED

An Ancient Site Is Rediscovered

LA 149 was first documented in 1925, then forgotten for decades.

Today, La Cienega is a small, traditional northern New Mexico rural community south of Santa Fe. This settlement along the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Spanish “Royal Road” from Mexico City to Santa Fe that was in use from the late 1500s to the late1800s, was the location of a 17th-century pueblo that was resettled by the Spanish in the early 1700s.

Archaeologists have identified at least five major pueblos in the Santa Fe River and Cienega Creek watersheds between Santa Fe and La Cienega, all of which were occupied in the late 1200s through the early 1400s. Other smaller, but equally important, sites are found in the area surrounding the larger pueblos and they complete the cultural landscape. The Conservancy recently signed an option to buy one of these sites, which is known as LA 149. This designation is the Museum of New Mexico’s Laboratory of Anthropology’s identification number assigned to the site when it was first documented in 1925 by noted Southwestern archaeologist H. P. Mera.

Although LA 149 was documented long ago, few archaeologists have visited the site because it’s been buried under alluvial soils that have accumulated over the years. It was “rediscovered” by the property owner in the early 1990s when large numbers of artifacts were found while building the foundation for a new home. Construction stopped in accordance with the Santa Fe County Land Development Code, which requires an archaeological survey during land development planning stages, and also outlines procedures to follow when previously unrecorded archaeological resources are discovered. County officials and the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division were contacted and a treatment plan was developed.

Archaeologist Cherie Scheick of Southwest Archaeological Consultants, Inc., conducted a limited testing program

The LA 149 site is buried under modern alluvium and dense stands of native vegetation. This redware sherd (insert) was found at the site.

that verified the site is in fact LA 149 and determined its boundaries. They also found extensive archaeological remains, including multi-room architectural units.

The property owners wanted to preserve the site, so they changed their construction plans and contacted the Conservancy. As a result, we have entered into an option for a bargain sale to charity where the owner accepts a cash offer that is less than the fair market value of the property. The difference between the cash payment and fair market value is then considered a charitable donation, and the owner receives state tax credits and federal tax deductions.

Scheick’s investigation confirmed the presence of substantial undisturbed cultural materials. This will be an important addition to the group of six archaeological preserves the Conservancy has established in Santa Fe County. —Steve Koczan

Conservancy Plan of Action

Site: LA 149 Culture and time Period: Ancestral Puebloan, Late a.d. 1300s to Early 1400s aCquiSition: The Conservancy has a real estate purchase option from the owner in a bargain sale to charity transaction. The purchase price and additional costs for developing management and public educational programs will be $79,149. The property owner donation is valued at $145,000. How You Can HelP: Please send contributions to The Archaeological Conservancy, Attn: LA 149 in La Cienega Archaeological site, 5301 Central Ave. NE, Suite 902, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1530.