Historical Marker
Mesa del Contadero
The Chihuahua Trail passed by the large volcanic mesa on the east bank of the Río Grande, marking the northern end of the Jornada del Muerto (Journey of the Dead Man). “Contadero” means “the counting place,” or a narrow place where people and animals must pass through one-by-one.
New Mexico has been inhabited by various indigenous groups for thousands of years, including the Puebloan peoples who built elaborate cliff dwellings such as those found at the Bandelier National Monument.