Researchers trace Ancestral Pueblo Blue Pigments to Utah and New Mexico
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Researchers from the University of New Mexico identified the geological origins of azurite, a blue copper mineral, used by Ancestral Pueblo communities 1,400 years ago.
The team led by Kari Schleher analyzed 12 specimens of azurite found in the Four Corners region of the United States. By testing the isotopes of lead, strontium, and copper, the scientists determined that most of the pigment came from the Lisbon Valley, while two samples originated from the Zuni Mountains in New Mexico.
The findings show that Ancestral Pueblo people traveled from modern-day New Mexico to central Utah to mine these materials. The team plans to examine more samples at the New Mexico Mining Museum and consult local oral histories regarding traditional territories and mine use.
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