History & Timeline of Indigenous New Mexicans

c. 25000 B.C. - Sandia people leave earliest evidence of human existence in what is now New Mexico.

c. 10000-9000 B.C. - Clovis hunters roam area in search of mammoth, bison and other game.

c. 9000-8000 B.C. - Folsom people flourish throughout Southwest at the end of the last Ice Age.

c. 10000-500 B.C. - Cochise people are first inhabitants to cultivate corn, squash and beans, the earliest evidence of agriculture in the Southwest.

A.D. 300-1400 - Mogollon culture introduces highly artistic pottery and early architecture in the form of pit houses.

A.D. 1-700 - Anasazi basketmakers elevate weaving to a high art, creating baskets, clothing, sandals and utensils.

A.D. 700-1300 - Anasazi culture culminates in the highly developed Chaco Civilization.

A.D. 1200-1500s - Pueblo Indians establish villages along the Rio Grande and its tributaries.

1536 - Cabeza de Vaca, Estevan the Moor and two others reach Culiacdn, Mexico, after possibly crossing what is now southern New Mexico, and begin rumors of the Seven Cities of Cibola.

1539 - Fray Marcos de Niza and Estevan lead expedition to find Cibola and reach the Zuni village of Hawikuh, where Estevan is killed.

1580-81 - Fray Agustin Rodriguez leads expedition to New Mexico; four members of the party killed by Indians.

1582-83 - Fray Bernadino Beltran and Fray Antonio de Espejo lead expedition to New Mexico to search for survivors of the ill-fated Rodriguez mission.

1598 - Juan de Onate establishes the first Spanish capital of San Juan de los Caballeros at the Tewa village of Ohke north of present-day Espanola

1599 - Battle at Aroma between natives and Spaniards; seeds of Pueblo Revolt sown.

1605 - Onate expedition to the Colorado River; visits El Morro, leaves message on Inscription Rock.

1608 - Onate removed as governor and sent to Mexico City to be tried for mistreatment of the Indians and abuse of power. Decision made by Spanish Crown to continue settlement of New Mexico as a royal province.

1609-10 - Gov. Pedro de Peralta establishes a new capital at Santa Fe. Construction begins on the Palace of the Governors. Gaspar de Villagra publishes epic history on the founding of New Mexico, the first book printed about any area in the modern United States.

1626 - Spanish Inquisition established in New Mexico.

1641 - Gov. Luis de Rosas assassinated by colonists during conflict between the church and state.

1680 - Pueblo Indian Revolt Spanish survivors flee to El Paso del Norte.

Late 1600's - Navajos, Apaches, lies, and Comanches begin raids against Pueblo Indians.

1692-93 - Don Diego de Vargas recolonizes Santa Fe. Spanish civilization returns to New Mexico.

1696 - Second Pueblo Revolt; efforts thwarted by Gov. De Vargas.

1863-68 - Known as the "Long Walk," Navajos and Apaches are relocated to Bosque Redondo: finally allowed to return to their homelands after thousands die of disease and starvation.

1886 - Geronimo surrenders; Indian hostilities cease in the Southwest.

1923-24 - Oil is discovered on the Navajo Reservation.

1942-45 - New Mexico soldiers serving in the 200th Coast Artillery during World War II are captured by the Japanese and forced to endure the Bataan Death March. Navajo "Codetalkers" are influential in helping end the war. Secret atomic laboratories established at Los Alamos.

1948 - Native Americans will the right to vote in state elections.