The ancient Mimbres people lived in the Mimbres Valley, which was located in the Mogollon culture area in southwestern New Mexico, from AD 200 to 1450.

The Mimbres, like their neighbors, the Hohokam to the west and the Anasazi to the north, were farmers and lived in pithouses and, later, pueblos.

The Mimbres are best known for their pottery. From AD 750 until AD 1130 the Mimbres produced black-on-white painted pottery decorated with geometric and/or naturalistic designs.