Posi-ouinge, Archaeological site in Ojo Caliente, US.
Posi-ouinge, called P'osí Ówîngeh Kayyee or "moss-greenness ruin" in Tewa, lies on the banks of the Rio Ojo Caliente above the hot springs at Ojo Caliente. The pueblo may have held well over 2,000 rooms and 13 kivas, making it one of the largest in the Southwest. Visitors walk a short self-guided trail through room blocks to overlooks of the valley.
The settlement began in the 13th century and grew into one of the largest pueblos in the southwestern United States. It was occupied for several centuries before its residents eventually moved away from the valley.
The Tewa name P'osí Ówîngeh Kayyee translates as 'moss-greenness ruin'. The site holds 13 kivas, round ceremonial chambers whose presence points to Pueblo ritual life. The Tewa who lived here are ancestors of Tewa speakers now living near the Rio Grande in the Española area.
The site can be explored on foot using a marked trail that starts near the Mineral Spring Hotel. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as the terrain is open and sunny.
The site sits above hot springs that still flow in Ojo Caliente today. This natural feature made the area attractive to settlers across many centuries.
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