Kipp Ruin, a multi-component prehistoric community, is owned and managed by the Archaeological Conservancy. The site was first recorded by archaeologists in the early 1900s. Kipp is located on the floodplain of the Mimbres River in Luna County at the eastern edge of the Mimbres region, the northern edge of the Casas Grandes region, and the western edge of the Jornada Mogollon region. It has a post A.D. 1200 component that appears to have evidence of all three cultures, including Salado polychrome pottery. Kipp also has pithouse structures that appear to date from 100 B.C to A.D. 1000.

Location and Difficulty: Near Deming, NM. Can drive to site - short dirt road. No trails, moderate terrain. Drive time = about 1-1/2 hours. Time to visit site = 1 to 2 hours.

The Mimbres Culture Heritage Site (the Mattocks Site) is a Classic Mimbres Pueblo site with only a few associated pithouses. This site was excavated twice by archaeologists: Paul Nesbitt, in 1929-1931, and The Mimbres Foundation in the late 1970s. For the past three years, the 7 acre site has been in the possession of the Imogen F. Wilson Education Foundation which operates tours of the archaeological site as well as the two historic Territorial adobe homes adjacent. The Grant County Archaeological Society maintains their library/archives there, and hosts field schools which use the facilities as their headquarters.

Location and Difficulty: Mimbres, NM. Can drive to site - paved highway. Wheelchair accessible trail loop. Drive time = about 1 hour. Time to visit site = about 1 hour or to taste. [Other Mimbres sites may be offered.]

The Woodrow Ruin, a large multicultural site on the upper Gila River, has been known since the 1920s but was not extensively researched until 2011. At that time Jakob Sedig began a four year study that not only helped understand life at Woodrow Ruin and the upper Gila, but also helped shed light on the Mimbres Transitional period (A.D. 900-1000) when people made the switch from living in pithouses to above ground pueblos. That appears to have been the apex of settlement at the Woodrow Site. Unlike most Mimbres sites, Woodrow has been spared from extensive looting since its purchase by the Museum of New Mexico in the 1970s. Its preservation makes it possible to provide archaeologists with information unavailable at most Mimbres sites that have been devastated by pothunting.

Location and Difficulty: Near Cliff, NM. Paved highway, short gravel road. Park on road. No trails, easy terrain. Drive time = about 1-1/2 hours. Time to visit site = 1 to 2 hours.

WE ARE SORRY TO INFORM ATTENDEES THAT WE HAVE HAD TO CANCEL THE FIELD TRIP TO THE PONY HILLS PETROGLYPH SITE. ALL OTHER FOUR FIELD TRIPS REMAIN AVAILABLE. WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE.

Pony Hills Petroglyph Site is located approximately 15 miles north of Deming, NM, on BLM land. Petroglyphs representative of both Jornada and Mimbreño cultures are pecked into the rock outcropping among rolling hills. It is one of the largest assemblages of rock art in the region, and is well known. The images include isomorphic, anthropomorphic, and geometric designs. One of the best known images is that of a large hand pecked “Kokopelli” figure.

Location and Difficulty: Near Deming, NM. 10 miles of gravel road. Accessible to most cars with cautious driving. Park near site. The trail is rough to non-existent. Difficult, rocky, steep, uneven terrain. About 1 mile exploring site. Drive time = about 1-1/2 hours. Time to visit site = 1 to 2 hours.

The Rock House Petroglyph Site is on New Mexico State Trust Land near a state highway. It sits opposite the location of the Rock House Pueblo Site which fell victim to bulldozers years ago. For years it was known locally as the “Bandito” site, because of a large red stereotyped Mexican figure that a vandal had painted over a petroglyph panel. A few years ago the Grant County Archaeological Society undertook remediation of the site, and safely removed the red barn paint that had defaced the petroglyphs.

Location and Difficulty: Near Faywood, NM. Park on Highway 61. Short walk uphill. Difficult terrain. Drive time = about 1 hour. Time to visit site = 1 hour.

Back to ASNM Main Page.

Back to GCAS Home page.