A Remarkable Memory of a Bridge Built by the Coronado Expedition.

This article focuses on the historical and archaeological investigation of a bridge reportedly built by the Coronado expedition (1539–1542) across the Rio de Cicuique, identified as the Pecos River in Guadalupe County, New Mexico. The authors defend the credibility of Pedro de Castañeda de Nájera’s detailed eyewitness account, which uniquely describes the construction of a floating bridge necessary to cross the flooded river during spring runoff, as well as the presence of thousands of livestock accompanying the expedition. They argue that the bridge’s location aligns with documented travel distances and routes, and that the expedition’s members included individuals experienced in bridge construction, notably Diego López, who had overseen the famous floating bridge (puente de barcas) in Sevilla, Spain. The article challenges recent skepticism about the bridge’s existence and the size of the livestock herd, emphasizing the consistency of contemporaneous sources and physical geography in supporting Pedro de Castañeda’s narrative.