The Zuni (Zuni: A:shiwi; formerly spelled Zuñi) are Native American
Pueblo peoples native to the Zuni River valley. The current day Zuni
are a Federally recognized tribe and most live in the Pueblo of Zuni
on the Zuni River, a tributary of the Little Colorado River, in
western New Mexico, United States. The Pueblo of Zuni is 55 km (34 mi)
south of Gallup, New Mexico. The Zuni tribe lived in multi level adobe
houses. In addition to the reservation, the tribe owns trust lands in
Catron County, New Mexico, and Apache County, Arizona. The Zuni call
their homeland Halona Idiwan’a or Middle Place. The word Zuni is
believed to derive from the Western Keres language (Acoma) word
sɨ̂‧ni, or a cognate thereof.Archaeology suggests that the Zuni
have been farmers in their present location for 3,000 to 4,000 years.
It is now thought that the Zuni people have inhabited the Zuni River
valley since the last millennium B.C., at which time they began using
irrigation techniques which allowed for farming maize on at least
household-sized plots.Zuni culture was preceded by Mogollon and
Ancestral Pueblo peoples cultures, who lived in the deserts of New
Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and southern Colorado for over two millennia.
White Mound was one such settlement of pit houses, farming, and
storerooms, built around 700 A.D., followed by the village of
Kiatuthlanna around 800 A.D., and Allantown around 1000 A.D. These
Mogollon villages included kivas. Likewise, Zuni ancestors were in
contact with the Anasazi at Chaco Canyon around 1100. The Zuni
settlement called Village of the Great Kivas, was built around 1100,
and included nine kivas. The Zuni region, however, was probably only
sparsely populated by small agricultural settlements until the 12th
century when the population and the size of the settlements began to
increase. The large villages of Heshot Ula, Betatakin, and Kiet Siel
were established by 1275. By the 13th century villages were built on
top of mesas, including Atsinna on Inscription Rock. In the 14th
century, the Zuni inhabited a dozen pueblos between 180 and 1,400
rooms in size, while the Anasazi abandoned larger settlements for
smaller ones, or established new ones along the Rio Grande. The Zuni
did move from the eastern portion of their territory to the western
side, and built six new villages, Halona, Hawikuh, Kiakima, Matsaki,
Kwakina, and Kechipaun. Halona was located 97 km north Zuni Salt Lake,
and the Zuni traded in salt, corn and turquoise. Hawikuh was claimed
by Niza to be one of the Seven Cities of Cibola, a legendary 16th
century wealthy empire.In 1539, Moorish slave Estevanico led an
advance party of Fray Marcos de Niza's Spanish expedition. Sponsored
by Antonio de Mendoza who wanted Niza to "explain to the natives of
the land that there is only one God in heaven, and the Emperor on
earth to rule and govern it, whose subjects they all must become and
whom they must serve." The Zuni reportedly killed Estevanico as a spy,
or for being "greedy, voracious and bold." This was Spain's first
contact with any of the Pueblo peoples. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
expedition followed in the wake of Niza's Seven Cities of Cibola
claim. Sponsored once again by Mendoza, Coronado led 230 soldiers on
horseback, 70 foot soldiers, several Franciscan priests and Mexican
natives. The Spanish met 600 Zuni warriors near Hawikuh in July 1540,
inflicting several casualties, and capturing the village. Coronado
continued onwards to the Rio Grande, but several priests and soldiers
stayed an additional 2 years. The Chamuscado and Rodríguez Expedition
followed in 1581, and Antonio de Espejo in 1583. Juan de Oñate
visited Zuni territory in 1598 and 1604 looking for copper mines, but
without success. Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto established a mission
at Hawikuh in 1629 with 2 Franciscan priests. They completed a church
compound in 1632, and established a second mission in Halona. Shortly
afterwards, the Zuni destroyed the missions, killing two priests, and
then retreated to Dowa Yalanne, where they remained for the next three
years. The Spanish built another mission in Halona in 1643.:56â€"59 Zuni Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter