Reoccupation Plazuela

A close up of one of the rooms of the Plazuela today.

NPS Photo

 

A Plazuela is a fortified ranch with buildings, barns, and a corral all within a protective wall. The remains of a plazuela can be seen at the Abó unit of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. This structure dates to the reoccupation period from about 1815 to 1830. Following the failure of the Abó Mission, resettlement was a slow process due to continued Apache raiding. By the 1800s, a few sheep herders were trying to return to the area due to the reliable spring water. The plazuela contained a number of rooms including a Torreon, or defensive tower, like the similar structure at Quarai. These defenses did little good against increased Apache raiding, and Abó was again abandoned around 1830.

A second reoccupation of Abó was attempted by 1869. This time, Juan Jose Sisneros moved his family to the Abó ruins. The extended Sisneros family began to build additional houses and plazuelas in the area south and west of the Abó Mission ruins. This time, the reoccupation of Abó was able to succeed and the Sisneros family continues to live in the area to this day. Many of these reoccupation structures can be seen along the Abó interpretive trail as it continues south from the mission.