Frances Canyon Ruin

Frances Canyon Ruin and Boundary Increase (LA 2135)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Southeastern side of the ruin
Nearest city:	Blanco, New Mexico
Area:	2.5 acres (1.0 ha) (original); 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) (increase)
Built:	1716
Governing body:	Bureau of Land Management
MPS:	Navajo-Refugee Pueblo TR (AD) [original]; Navajo-Refugee Pueblo TR (increase)
NRHP Reference#:	70000404 (original); 87000244 (increase)
Added to NRHP:	September 4, 1970 (original); January 21, 1987 (increase)

The Frances Canyon Ruin is a Navajo pueblito near Blanco in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. Built ca. 1716, it reflects economic and social changes taking place among the Navajo of this area during the 18th century. In the previous century the Spanish introduced sheep, fruit, cattle, and horses into the area. This, along with the Navajo's adaptation of certain pueblo lifeways after the Pueblo Revolt (1680-1692), led to increased settlement size and new trade relations. This site can be contrasted with modern Navajo communities which consist of clusters of hogans, widely dispersed with a trade system based on scattered trading posts and the motor vehicle.