The turquoise mosaics, masks, shields and helmets by the Mixtec and Aztec civilisations of Mexico were among the most striking artefacts encountered by the Spanish conquistadors of the early 16th century as they 'discovered' the New World. More than things of simple beauty or wealth, they were of great import in ritual and performance and were the product of a complex and long established tradition in mining and craftsmanship. The trade in turquoise linked mines today's New Mexico with Casas Grandes and, via overland and seaway trade routes, to Jalisco in West Mexico and with the find sites of Puebla state and power centre at Teotihuacan. Colin McEwan's tour explores sites involved in this vital trade by visiting the key areas of Mexico associated with the Turquoise Trail with insights into famed locations.