Archeology

For thousands of years, Native American peoples have occupied and used the Jemez Mountains for hunting all sizes of game, small mammals, and waterfowl; fishing; collecting seeds, nuts, and berries; and gathering various plants for medicine and ceremonies. The signature resource for these indigenous peoples was obsidian. The region's high-quality volcanic glass yielded valuable materials for spear points, arrowheads, knives, and scrapers. Obsidian artifacts from the last 12,000 years are abundant throughout the Jemez Mountains and are found in ancient quarries, campsites, and even seasonally occupied small villages.

Numerous American Indian tribes and Pueblos in the region have deep historic and cultural connections to the Jemez Mountains that are expressed today through ceremonial activities, rich oral histories, and sacred traditions.