In the field school, students will conduct an archaeological survey in an attempt to pinpoint the precise location and determine the state of preservation of the road, which was used officially from 1598 to 1880. The boundaries of the survey will be Interstate Highway 10 to the north and east, the Rio Grande to the west and Mesa Street in El Paso to the south.

The students will be walking across the study area on Saturday mornings during the fall semester. They will be working in groups of three to four, studying the landscape for traces of the old road.

“We want to be sure that when people see the students, they know what they are doing. If they have any questions about the survey, they are encouraged to contact me. Also, residents with information about any physical traces of the trail in this area are especially encouraged to contact me,” Staski said.

Staski said the Camino Real was one of the earliest long-distance trails established by European colonists in North America. It extended approximately 1,600 miles from near Mexico City to Santa Fe, passing through the Mesilla Valley.

Because the area between Las Cruces and El Paso has witnessed significant agricultural, suburban and urban development, many historians and archaeologists believe all physical traces of this segment of the Camino Real have been destroyed. However, until now no one has attempted a scientific survey to determine whether this is actually the case, Staski said.

Staski can be reached at the University Museum, at (505) 646-3739 or estaski@nmsu.edu.

Jack King
Aug. 20, 2002

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