Archaeology
Archaeology at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas
Ongoing Projects
Over the last several summers a group of students led by Dr. Heather Trigg and Dr. Stephen Mrozowski of the Fiske Center for Archaeology at the University of Massachusetts Boston have been surveying and excavating the museum core of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. This work continues during the summer of 2024. With the help of a grant from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Trigg, Dr. Mrozowski, and a team of graduate and PhD students continue to open up the excavation pit to discover artifacts, features, and possible architecture, revealing more of El Rancho de Las Golondinas’ rich history.
Dr. Trigg first came to New Mexico with an interest in Spanish Colonial archaeology, excavating at LA 20,000, a very important Spanish Colonial site that El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is the steward of. You can check out some of the artifacts that were excavated in the exhibit hall attached to the Museum Store.
Torreón
Here at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas we have the archaeological remains of a torreón (defensive tower). A torreón was used to defend against attack. Since these structures were often taller than the buildings and geographical features around them, they also allowed people to see others approaching from a distance. The torreón at Las Golondrinas was long rumored to be there, and it was finally excavated in the 2010s. The archaeological investigation into this torreón revealed that it was likely built in the 18th century and was used for defense, storage, and perhaps a residence at some point. Visitors can visit the foundation of the torreón just past the Pino House and pond. Objects excavated from the site can be viewed in the Exhibit Hall located inside the Museum Store.
Can You Dig It?
Can You Dig It? is a hands-on archaeology exhibit for children ages 5 and up to explore and discover the fun of archaeological excavation. The exhibit is located at the bottom of the hill near the Blacksmith Shop and consists of three pits each seeded with “artifakes.”
Children are given tools and instructions and then assigned an area in which to dig and record what objects they find in their “grid,” just like an archaeologist would! When the children are finished, they return their finds and receive a prize for participating.
