Dr. Matthew Martinez in front of petroglyph panel at Mesa Prieta. Photo Credit: John Kincheloe
Presented by |Dr. Matthew Martinez
In our fourth Virtual Lecture of 2023, Dr. Matthew Martinez discussed Geographies of the Sacred. His lecture took us to landscapes and rock images in northern New Mexico that reflect movement and living histories. He discussed that despite an ongoing misrepresentation of being non-literate, Indigenous people have always been skilled at documenting stories. Tewa people view themselves within a larger ecological system interconnected to all things living. Mesa Prieta or Tsikwaye is one example of a vast landscape comprised of more than 100,000 petroglyphs and archaeological features that date back thousands of years. Located on the northern Rio Grande region, this place is embedded in stories that are foundational to sharing New Mexico histories and beyond.
In our third Virtual Lecture of 2023, Ken Zoll discussed meteorites that have been found at several ancient sites in the American Southwest. Four of these meteorites were in or near dwellings of the Sinagua Culture in Central Arizona. The Sinagua meteorites were determined to be part of the Canyon Diablo meteorite that created Meteor Crater near Flagstaff more than 50,000 years ago. Literature suggested that these specimens were manually transported to their locations by Native Americans hundreds of years ago. However, using recent research and modeling, the manuport hypothesis is questioned, resulting in an alternative conclusion. In addition, the estimated date of the destruction of one of the Sinagua ruins was confirmed using radiocarbon dating of charred material adhering to the meteorite that was found in the dwelling. Watch the recorded lecture HERE.
Presented by | Dr. Shawn Lambert, Jessica Fleming Crawford, and Dr. James Andrew Whitaker
Prospect Hill Plantation House Photo by Nikki Mattson
In our second Virtual Lecture of 2023, Dr. Shawn Lambert, Jessica Fleming Crawford, and Dr. James Andrew Whitaker discussed the Prospect Hill Plantation in southern Mississippi and its connection with the African country of Liberia. The Prospect Hill Plantation was established in the early 1800’s, and at its height as many as 300 people were enslaved there. Isaac Ross, the plantation owner, was a member of the American Colonization Society which raised money to establish settlements of formerly enslaved people in what is now the country of Liberia. Watch the recorded lecturehere.
Presented by | April M. Brown, Southwest Regional Director for The Archaeological Conservancy
In our first Virtual Lecture of 2023 April Brown spoke about one of our latest southwest acquisition projects – an intact Tijeras Canyon Pueblo site situated just a few miles away from Tijeras Pueblo. Watch the recorded lecture here.
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