October 23, 2024—On October 20 and 21, the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site hosted Archaeology Southwest and White Mountain Apache Tribe Historic Preservation Office (THPO) staff to complete the long-anticipated re-fencing of the right-of-way for Mattocks Pueblo, a beautifully set Ancestral Pueblo village located just above the Mimbres River—and the only such site available for public visitation.
Legendary guide and archaeologist Gregg (aka Troy) Henry led the fencing crew, assisted by another THPO staffer, Brandon Dale, and myself. The 700-foot project entailed removing the existing barbed wire and posts, building four “Cibecue H-Braces,” digging holes for, chipping bark off of, and sinking about 40 new juniper posts, and stretching and hanging four new strands of wire (“wildlife-friendly” barbless wires top and bottom).
“Talking can only get you so far. Ten years of planning; two days for Gregg, John, and Brandon, to get after it and build the fence. It was an amazing example of the principle of applied effort,” said Bill Hudson, Board President of the Imogen F. Wilson Education Foundation, the charitable organization dedicated to caring for and sharing the pueblo site and on-site historical buildings. Gregg provided seasoned technical leadership; Brandon and I served as the field crew.
“Fencing is real hard work,” Gregg acknowledged, “but if you get the corners and the braces built right, lay out a clear straight line, and don’t find too many rocks hiding where you need posts, you’re gonna have a good fence that will last 50 years. It sure makes for a good feeling to protect these ancestral places and show the world you care. It also feels good to get to know this part of my cousins’ [Chiricahua Apache] territory.”
Mattocks Pueblo was extensively excavated beginning in the 1920s, but remains sensitive to trespass and misuse. Artist Jesse Ochoa and his spouse, Olivia, own the neighboring parcel, and Archaeology Southwest is honored to hold conservation easements on both properties.
People went to a lot of trouble to set it up so current and future generations can learn and benefit from Mattocks. We must honor those commitments and the original owners and builders of the village by doing our share, plus a bit more. It takes a community—including any of you readers who are also supporters of Archaeology Southwest. (The project was funded by Archaeology Southwest’s Site Preservation and Acquisition Endowment, thanks in part to the generosity of the Smith Family Trust.)
It engaged a bunch of the local Mimbres Valley community and adjacent friends, in particular: Harold and Marilyn Markel cut and seasoned all of the juniper posts (62!) with a free special-use permit from Gila National Forest. Kathy Hill helped with the planning. Jeff Hollaway packed and hauled all the slash and brush from the fence line clearing (10 pickup loads!) to the local burn pit. Emilio Tapia put the residual fuelwood to good use. Leigh Reisch kept the crew supplied with freshly picked Mimbreño apples. White Mountain Apache Historic Preservation Officer Mark Altaha provided essential administrative and logistical support. Jesse Ochoa loaned the extra digging bar needed to get the post holes good and deep.
Job well done, all!
