Pueblo of Nambé

In Tewa, the name nambay-onghwee or Nambé, means people of the round earth. Occupied around 1300, this Tewa pueblo was first described by Castaño de Sosa in 1591 as a square structure, two stories high, with a central plaza, whose people irrigated their crops. It served as a primary cultural and religious center for this community. It was nearly destroyed when the Spanish conquerors arrived in New Mexico and learned of its importance.