Discovering Mesa Prieta

INTRODUCTION FOR EDUCATORS

Northern New Mexico has a very rich cultural history. People have lived
here for at least 13,000 years and the cultures that have evolved over that
time are still flourishing today. In our pulic
schools the study of New Mexico history is
emphasi!ed in grade four. "nfortunately the
information in text oo#s is often superficial or
generali!ed. Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Pro$ect, a
not%for%profit organi!ation in northern New
Mexico, secured funding to develop a curriculum
to supplement the text oo#s.
&he curriculum is called Discovering Mesa Prieta: The Petroglyphs
of Northern New Mexico and the People Who Made Them. It contains
detailed information and activities aout the petroglyphs and the people
who lived north and west of 'spa(ola. )ou may not recogni!e the name
*Mesa Prieta+ ecause in the last hundred years it has een #nown as ,lac#
Mesa or -anoe Mesa. .ince there are so many ,lac# Mesas in the
.outhwest, we are returning to the use of the .panish name, which means
/ar# Mesa. ,efore the coming of the 'uropeans, it was #nown as Tsikw'aye
y the &ewa spea#ing people of the area.
It is estimated that there are over 00,000 petroglyphs on Mesa Prieta.
&he earliest petroglyphs were proaly made y the 1rchaic people etween
2200 ,- and 300 1/. &heir images range from simple astract designs to
elaorate multi%element panels. 1s various groups of people moved into the
area, the style of the petroglyphs changed. &he ma$ority of the petroglyphs
were created y the 1ncestral Pueloans, formerly #nown as the 1nasa!i,
etween 1400 and 1230 1/. &heir designs contain a large variety of
pictorial elements such as shields, serpents, animals, irds and flute players
in a style referred to as the 5io 6rande style. 7ater, with the arrival of the
'uropeans, elements associated with their culture ecame part of the mix of
motifs.
,y studying the petroglyphs and cultures that made them, we have an
opportunity to contemplate our place in time and connect with those who
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Discovering Mesa Prieta
INTRODUCTION FOR EDUCATORS
came efore us. 8hen we stand on the windy flan#s of Mesa Prieta high
aove the 5io 6rande and discover a huge oulder covered with mysterious
designs, we can try to imagine what life might have een li#e in ancient
times. 8hen we visit 9h#ay 9wingeh to watch a sacred dance, we can feel
the continuity of their cultural heritage, an unro#en, intimate connection to
their past that is reflected in the long history of the neary petroglyphs.
Many students in the 'spa(ola :alley have
never seen these fascinating petroglyphs and
have little connection to the early history of this
land. It is the hope of MPPP that Discovering
Mesa Prieta will open the door of living history
for our students and promote and encourage a
sense of respect and appreciation for the Puelo
people,the early ;ispanic settlers and New
Mexico<s rich heritage.
&he field of archaeology is integrative and
interdisciplinary. .imilarly, this curriculum guide is activity ased and cross
curricular. It is designed to teach students to thin# holistically= to integrate
information from different topics= to prolem solve= use in>uiry s#ills and to
wor# cooperatively. It is aligned with the NM .tandards and ,enchmar#s.
Using the curriculum:
a. 6rade level? &his curriculum was developed to enhance the 3
th

grade study of New Mexico history. 8e have discovered over the years that
it is $ust as relevant for 2
th
and 0
th
graders and has een adapted y middle
and high school teachers as well.
. /uration? )ou may wish to use the whole curriculum ut it is not
essential to use every single unit and activity. &he units mar#ed with an
asteris# in the 1nnotated "nits section are considered core units. It is
strongly suggested that the field trip to the Mesa for their @ield 8or# /ay e
included. @all or early spring is the est time for this field trip.
It is suggested that you use the curriculum as a fall semester pro$ect,
presenting a different unit each wee#. It may also e started in the winter and
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Discovering Mesa Prieta
INTRODUCTION FOR EDUCATORS
completed in the spring. It now contains a .panish component and can e
incorporated into i%lingual classes.
c. @ield wor# day? &he focal point of this curriculum is a field wor#
day at Mesa Prieta to hi#e on private land with trained volunteer guides
AdocentsB. It is expected that at least four ac#ground activities will e
completed efore the trip. @ollow%up activities may e utili!ed afterwards.
@or advanced classes that have already covered the core units and visited
Mesa Prieta, we offer an advanced trip that includes classroom training in
the recording tecni>ues and a special field trip to record petroglyph panels as
in teams. If a field trip is impossile, there are many supplemental classroom
activities that can e presented.
d. 5esource trun#s? &hese may e chec#ed out at the MPPP office in
:elarde and contain materials and supplies for the activities, as well as
oo#s and /:/s. 1 trained volunteer may e ale to come into the
classroom to wor# with you on one or more of the activities. In order to
reserve a trun#, schedule your @ield 8or# /ay, andCor classroom visit,
please call Paula at 202 D24%0400 or e mail her at .
e. .tudent portfolios? It is suggested that each student #eep a Mesa
Prieta folder, $ournal or portfolio. &here are student ac#ground information
sheets and activity sheets for some of the lessons. &hese will provide an
assessment tool as well as something that the students may share with their
families.
f. 'xtension activities? Many of the ideas in this curriculum have
come from Intrige of the Past: Discovering !rchaeology in New Mexico
pulished y the ,ureau of 7and Management and Petroglyph National
Monment Teacher"s #ide which contain extension activities and many
other resources. &hese guides are included in
the resource trun# mentioned aove. .ome
suggested activities are listed on p. xxii. 1
fourth curriculum guide, The !ncestral
Pe$lo People of %andelier: ! #ide for &th
#rade Teachers, is availale online at
http?CCwww.nps.govCandCforteachersCfourth%
grade%lesson%plans.htm
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Discovering Mesa Prieta
INTRODUCTION FOR EDUCATORS
Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Pro$ectE hopes that you and your students will
ecome excited aout the ama!ing petroglyphs of Mesa Prieta
and all of the cultural resources of our land. &hrough #nowledge comes
respect and a desire to preserve the treasures of the past. May our children
ecome the guardians of these treasures.
EMesa Prieta Petroglyph Pro$ect is a 201AcBA3B non%profit community organi!ation
located in :elarde, NM.. MPPP rings people together to enrich the >uality of life in
our community. ,y creating uni>ue and virant educational opportunities, we sustain
our historic communities and traditional cultures. 8e vigorously support efforts that
ensure healthy land, air and water.
Suggeste class introuction to Discovering Mesa Prieta:
*8ho #nows where ,lac# Mesa isF 8hich ,lac# MesaF &he one
etween -hamita and 'mudo. &here are actually many ,lac# Mesas in
New Mexico and this one has had many names. &he ancient Puelo people
called it &si#wGaye, which means ;ill &op of /ar# 5oc#. &he early .panish
people called it Mesa Prieta or /ar# Mesa. 7ater it was called Mesa de la
-anoa or -anoe Mesa ecause of its shape. 8hen the 1nglos came to New
Mexico, they called it ,lac# Mesa ecause of the lac# roc#s that cover it.
8e have decided that since there are so many ,lac# Mesas, we will use the
name Mesa Prieta.
*8ho has seen the petroglyphs on Mesa PrietaF Petroglyphs are
designs and pictures that are chipped into large oulders. 1s part of our
study of New Mexico history, we will e learning all aout Mesa Prieta, the
petroglyphs and the people who made them. )ou will each #eep a folder or
$ournal of all your wor# and when we are finished, you may ta#e it home
and share what you have learned with your family.H

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