Ácoma, the sky city

A compilation of historical records and ethnographic research traces the pueblo perched on a high mesa inhabited by the Keres people, assembling Spanish expedition accounts and later archaeological and anthropological studies. It reconstructs episodes of siege and rebuilding, missionary contact and conversion efforts, the community's role in regional uprisings, and its relations with federal authorities. Complementing the narrative are collected oral traditions, migration legends, clan and social organization, religious beliefs, and ceremonial rites. Material culture is treated through descriptions of pottery, games, and artifacts, and the author synthesizes prior scholarship to present a comparative perspective on Pueblo institutions and ritual life.