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Colonial and Pre-Columbian

Salmon Ruins Massacre

1250
New Mexico
Era
Colonial and Pre-Columbian
Year
1250
Location
New Mexico
Status
Historical record
The Battle

History & Significance

Salmon Ruins Massacre was a Colonial and Pre-Columbian engagement fought in New Mexico, 1250.

Excavated by Cynthia Irwin-Williams (1972-1978). The Tower Kiva fire event produced a large assemblage of burned skeletal remains with perimortem trauma. Many of the victims were children, suggesting the massacre targeted a defenseless group sheltering in the kiva. Dated to c.1250-1290, coinciding with the general period of violence that preceded the Mesa Verde abandonment. NRHP-listed.

Forces engaged
Unknown attackers vs. Mesa Verde-phase community at Salmon
Casualties
35-40 individuals including numerous children
Outcome
A burned tower kiva at Salmon Ruins contained the remains of at least 35-40 individuals including many children. Skeletal trauma and fire damage consistent with a massacre followed by burning.

Approximate location. The nearest recorded settlement is shown; the exact site is unrecorded.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Salmon Ruins Massacre take place?
Salmon Ruins Massacre took place in 1250.
Where was Salmon Ruins Massacre fought?
Salmon Ruins Massacre was fought in New Mexico, United States.
What was the significance of Salmon Ruins Massacre?
Excavated by Cynthia Irwin-Williams (1972-1978). The Tower Kiva fire event produced a large assemblage of burned skeletal remains with perimortem trauma. Many of the victims were children, suggesting the massacre targeted a defenseless group sheltering in the kiva. Dated to c.1250-1290, coinciding w
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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Salmon Ruins Massacre

Farmington Historic Downtown Commercial District
Listed · 1 mi
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Aztec Ruins Region Conflict
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All battles in New Mexico›Colonial and Pre-Columbianconflicts ›Historic sites in New Mexico›
Source

This page is compiled from cited public sources.

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