A new exhibit at New Mexico State University's Museum in Las Cruces wants to highlight a prehistoric site just south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Thursday, NMSU opened "Ceramics and Culture: A Window into Casas Grandes," a student-curated exhibition that explores the archaeological site of Paquime or Casas Grandes from Northwestern Chihuahua.

According to NMSU, the exhibit aims to show, through a display of pots and ceramics, the complex architecture and craftsmanship, as well as the role Paquime played in the cultural and trade networks of the borderland between the years 1130 and 1450 A.D.

"This exhibit helps visitors better understand the significance of Casas Grandes and its connections to the wider cultural landscape of the region," said Mikayla Gonzales, an anthropology graduate student who worked on the exhibit. "By studying the pottery and artifacts, visitors can see how the pieces serve as a window into the daily lives, beliefs, and trade practices of the Casas Grandes culture."

NMSU said the exhibit is the result of months of instructor Heather Para’s Museum Field Methods class.

"This exhibit gives our students the chance to gain hands-on experience with every stage of exhibit creation from research and design to construction and storytelling," Para said. "We aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how museums operate, preparing them for careers in the field."

Despite the items being encased in glass, the exhibit will allow visitors to interact with the objects using 3D models of the artifacts, courtesy of Nathan Camp, Emerging Technologies Librarian at NMSU's Branson Library.

In addition to the ceramics display, the exhibit also features a mural depicting the horned serpent water deity central to Paquime/Casas Grandes mythology, which was designed by student artist Elizabeth Swenson and painted by students.

The exhibit's opening ceremony will be held on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.

The exhibit will be open during regular museum hours, Tuesday through Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m. and will stay on display through Spring 2027.

Admission is free.

NMSU also credited students Sabrina Gonzalez, Alejandra Maese-Mora, Sammi Burke and Ulises Castañeda for working on putting the exhibit together.

For more information on NMSU’s University Museum, current and upcoming exhibits, follow their page.

to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.