Acoma Indian Pueblo, the Sky City, is famous in both history and legend.
Built on the top of a lofty, almost inaccessible, redrock mesa some 357
feet high, it is one of the most picturesque of all New Mexico Indian
pueblos. No other pueblo gives one such a clear sense of living in
ancestral times. The movements of the people up and down the steep
trails, the untiring vistas, and the ancient homesites are reminiscent
of the life and times of the cliff dwellers. Here the archeologists can
search out the secrets of ancient life by direct observation. Here, too,
is brought forth in the fullness of its bloom an Indian culture of
outstanding achievement.
The Indians of Acoma participated in the great Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
They killed their priest, Fray Lucas Maldonado, in the first frenzy of
the rebellion. Because of their isolation and the inaccessibility of the
village, they were spared the vengeance of the Spaniards under de Vargas
during the reconquest in 1692. There was an attempt by the Spanish in
1696 to take Acoma, but they succeeded only in destroying the crops and
in capturing five Acoma warriors. The Indians held out until July 6,
1699, when they submitted to the Spanish governor of New Mexico,
Governor Cubero. Thereafter, Acoma became an integral part of the
mission complex established in New Mexico by the Spanish.
[Illustration: (_Forest Service, U.S.D.A., by Starr Jenkins_)
Aspen Basin in Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe]
[Illustration: (_Forest Service, U.S.D.A., by John Whiteside_)
Tent Rocks in Jemez Mountains]
Acoma is noted for its excellent pottery. The ware is fashioned from
clay of fine quality, is very well fired, and is carefully decorated in
typical Acoma designs. Here is an excellent example of Indian artistic
ability. Some weaving, such as belts and headbands, is engaged in and a
few baskets are produced, but Acoma is most famous for its pottery.
One of the landmarks at Acoma is the great church which brave Fray Juan
Ramirez toiled to create in the early seventeenth century. Surely there
are few memorials of the Spanish epoch in the Southwest that present
such a picture of dauntless faith in spiritual ideals as does this
fortress church silhouetted high against the sky above the bare-rock
mesa. It measures 150 feet in length and has walls that are 60 feet high
and 10 feet thick. Timbers 40 feet long and 14 inches through support
the roof and make a handsome ceiling. There are, of course, no seats and
little decoration. And what a location for so magnificent a spiritual
center it is! From there one may lift his eyes in rapt admiration of the
splendid panorama of the great plain and the encircling mountains, and
thereby appreciate more fully the work of the Deity.
The Acoma are agriculturists, cultivating their lands by irrigation;
they raise corn, wheat, melons, squashes, and hay. Now, however, most of
the people of Acoma do not live on their mesa which protected them for
so many centuries. The dangers of attack are no longer present, and the
farmers find it more advantageous to live closer to their irrigated
plots. The result is that the people of Acoma are now scattered
throughout several villages. Their great culture, their traditions,
their fierce pride, and their deep reverence for their spectacular
history is visible in their faces and manners. Acoma, the Sky City,
remains the eternal city of New Mexico.