Who We Are
The Archaeological Conservancy is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving archaeological sites discovered on private land.
What We Do
We identify, acquire, secure, and manage the archaeological site as part of a long-term preservation plan. We also engage with and educate the general public about the preservation of our cultural heritage.
How We Do It
We depend on donations, gifts and grants for the funding needed for preservation. As a supporter, you become a member of the Conservancy and receive a subscription to American Archaeology Magazine.
Our Magazine
Published quarterly, American Archaeology a popular magazine devoted to the excitement and mystery of archaeology in the U.S. & North America – including Canada and Latin America.
American Archaeology Magazine Spring 2018 is Here!
The most recent issue of American Archaeology Magazine, SPRING 2018, is now available!
COVER: Researchers carefully position a 3-D scanner on the fragile steps...
Discovering The Archaeology Of Tattooing
Spring 2018: By Gayle Keck.
In old Western movies, Indians were invariably depicted galloping into the scene whooping and streaked with war paint. At least...
Donation made of significant Chaco Site: Now Saved the Dein Ruin
Albuquerque, New Mexico – March 1, 2018 – The Archaeological Conservancy recently acquired the Dein Ruin near Aztec, New Mexico. This significant early twelfth-century...
Expanding Ebbert Spring Site preserve that spans Paleo-Indian to 19th Century
In 2010 the Conservancy negotiated an agreement with a real estate developer to acquire a 3.4-acre parcel of land in the center of a...
Explore the Wonders of the Past
From the remote jungles of Honduras to the pristine rivers of the American Southwest, our archaeological tours promise exciting adventure. Whether you like touring Maya temples or learning about North American rock art, you’ll be sure to find a Conservancy tour that fits your interest. For more than 20 years, the Conservancy has conducted tours ranging in length from four days to two weeks. Expert guides always accompany our tours, providing unique insights about the places we visit. Tour regions include the American Midwest, Southeast, and Southwest, as well as Mexico and Central and South America. Click here to see all our tours >>
April 22 – 29, 2018 Info
Join us as we spend a week exploring the Chesapeake Bay’s rich 17th and 18thcentury culture. Our exciting journey will take us from the colonial capitals of Annapolis, Maryland and Williamsburg, VA, to the first permanent English colony in North America at Jamestown, to George Washington’s home at Mt. Vernon.
June 1 – 8, 2018 Info
Join us for a downriver adventure in Colorado and Utah, where you’ll float through Dinosaur National Monument and experience incredible scenery first described by explorer John Wesley Powell. On our 70-mile journey down the Yampa and Green Rivers you’ll visit remote archaeological sites, including Fremont culture rock art panels and prehistoric rock shelters. David Grant Noble, SW expert and notable author of Ancient Ruins of the Southwest, will accompany the tour.
Ancient Peoples of the Andes, June 8–22, 2018 Info
From the magical Inca city of Machu Picchu, to the splendor of Cuzco, and the beautiful and mysterious Lake Titicaca, our tour of the ancient civilizations of the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes promises to be an unforgettable adventure. Dr. John Henderson, an expert in the region’s archaeology, will join us.
Highlights of the Northern Plains Tour, Sept. 11 – 16, 2018 Info
Beginning and ending in Bismarck, North Dakota, this new tour will explore some of the unique and fascinating historic places of the Northern Plains. We’ll visit Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, which preserves the remains of five historic period Mandan/Hidatsa villages, including the “hometown” of Sacagawea, the guide for Lewis and Clark. We’ll also visit a number of prehistoric Native American sites.
Best of the Southwest, Sept. 22 – Oct. 2, 2018 Info
Experience the cultural and scenic diversity of the American Southwest. Our trip explores Native American cultures, both past and present, in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Expert archaeologists accompany our daily visits to some of the region’s most famous archaeological sites.
Peoples of The Mississippi Valley, Oct. 6-13, 2018 Info
Beginning in Memphis and following the Mississippi River south to Natchez, our journey travels through more than five thousand years of history – from ancient earthen mounds to Civil War battlefields. As early as 3500 B.C. and for the next five thousand years, rich and complex moundbuilder cultures developed along the fertile Mississippi River Valley. But in the 1500s Spanish invasions led to a drastic decline in the native population. Amidst the charm of the Old South and the magic of one of the world’s greatest rivers, our trip explores the region’s fascinating cultures
Oaxaca, Oct. 26 – Nov. 5, 201 Info
Join us in Oaxaca, Mexico during one of the most unusual festivals anywhere – the Day of the Dead. On this day, people prepare home altars and cemeteries to welcome the dead, who are believed to return to enjoy the food and drink they indulged in during life. Not at all a morbid occasion, the town is filled with celebration.Oaxaca lies in a semitropical valley surrounded by the peaks of the Sierra Madre del Sur. The city’s architecture reflects its rich Spanish Colonial and modern history. Vast ruins of Ancient Mixtecan and Zapotecan civilizations lie just outside the city.
