Pecos National Historical Park was home to Pecos Pueblo and was an important trading site in New Mexico . Photo by Artotem
Historian Marc Simmons looks at the history of trade and commerce in New Mexico, stating with inter-tribal networks:
A splendid image of the way New Mexico Indians exchanged goods in precontact times can be seen at Pecos National Historical Park. A large painting in the visitors’ center shows Plains Apaches arriving at Pecos Pueblo to trade. The nomads are bringing in products of the hunt, such as buckskins, buffalo robes, jerky, tallow and rawhide moccasins. The Pecos people, as seen in the painting, offer corn, beans, pumpkins, woven blankets and pottery. The scene provides a vivid reminder of how commerce was once carried on between Pueblo and Plains Indians. Upon settling New Mexico, the Spaniards became participants in the established trade network of the Native people. They introduced a dazzling array of goods, besides new crops and livestock of all kinds.Read More from Mark Simmons:
Trail Dust by Mark Simmons: American Indians developed complex system of commerce (The Santa Fe New Mexican 8/20)
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