Ancestral Sites Tour - Mission Economy

A complex of stone walls forms a series of corrals which were probably used to hold livestock. Some of these open areas may have also been workshops and storage areas. The Spanish introduced a variety of livestock to the pueblo, including cattle, sheep, and pigs. Sheep were more common initially, but by the 1700s more cattle were being bred and used for meat, hides, and milk. Some prized animals, such as dairy cows, may have been kept in the room with a cobblestone floor to your right. This floor may have been easier to clean. There was also evidence of turkey coops in this room.  

The Spanish missionaries partially supported their efforts through raising livestock and trade. They exchanged metal tools and livestock for piñon nuts, hides, and cotton blankets (mantas) woven by the pueblos.