We have designated the extinct watercourse that borders Kuykendall Ruins on the north as Ruins Arroyo. Approximately 5,000 feet north of Ruins Arroyo is Turkey Creek, the principal stream of today. Turkey Creek enjoys running and pooled water, trees, and a rocky bed. Ruins Arroyo is dry, treeless and filled with silt and sand. Being as we consider Kuykendall Ruins to be the site where Coronado sojourned, we must address the issue of water, fuel and shade for the camp.

On 17 May 2007, geologist Nugent Brasher guided three geologists from the Arizona Geological Survey ( http://www.azgs.state.az.us/ ) on a tour of the Kuykendall region. Afterwards, the State geologists provided Nugent with a written report and several aerial photos taken from previous years, the earliest being 1946. Nugent examined and studied these photographs, then made several trips to specific geological locations. Still later he conducted an archaeological surface reconnaissance of a wide area within the drainage corridor.

By relating the absence or presence of archaeological features to the fluvial corridor that includes Ruins Arroyo, Turkey Creek and other drainage, Nugent concluded that Ruins Arroyo was the principal stream in 1540, and that Turkey Creek north of Kuykendall Ruins became dominant post-1800. Furthermore, another extinct stream located between Ruins Arroyo and Turkey Creek was active in 1540, thereby providing a second watercourse available to the Expedition.

The various maps and photographs used for this geoarchaeological analysis, as well as a written report and a map showing the locations of the archaeological features which support the interpretation, will be posted on this website following the Fall 2008 or Winter 2009 issue of the New Mexico Historical Review.