La Joya de Sevilleta

Present-day La Joya is located near the site of an ancient Piro Indian pueblo that the Spanish named Nueva Sevilla, or Sevilleta. During the eighteenth century, this was the southernmost settlement along the Camino Real before travelers entered the despoblado, or uninhabited area between here and El Paso del Norte. The stretch included the infamous, 90-mile, waterless shortcut known as Jornada del Muerto. Every fall, caravans assembled here in preparation for this portion of the journey.