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An Exploration of Tijeras Canyon Archaeology

Presented by April M. Brown

  • Southwest Regional Director for The Archaeological Conservancy

More about the lecture

The Archaeological Conservancy’s first Virtual Lecture of 2023 was held on June 29, 2023 at 6pm MDT. This event featured April M. Brown, our new Southwest Regional Director.

Ms. Brown presented a talk on one of our recently acquired New Mexico preserves, LA 580 in Tijeras Canyon. This significant site is located on the eastern edge of Albuquerque and contains the remains of prehistoric structures that indicate a Pueblo occupation dating between 1200 and 1320 AD, as well as historic features.

In the 1970s, extensive excavations occurred because of road construction and many sites in Tijeras were destroyed. While little is known specifically about LA 580, it was part of a larger Pueblo community that spanned throughout the area. This important multi-component site is still intact and holds great research potential. In the video recording of the event you will hear Ms. Brown discuss the history of this archaeologically rich region and explain the Conservancy’s acquisition and preservation process.

Stone alignments visible in the vegetation are remnants of the foundations of 800 year-old structures. Photo credit: The Archaeological Conservancy

About the presenter

April Brown is the new Southwest Regional Director for The Archaeological Conservancy. She began her archaeology career at the University of Louisville in the 1990’s, conducting field work and research around the northern Kentucky region. She later finished her degree at the University of New Mexico where she received a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology with a minor in Geographic Information Science. Archaeological preservation and non-invasive research techniques were central to her undergraduate research at UNM. Her honors research focused on documenting rock art In the Jemez Mountains and studying environmental impacts at archaeological sites using drones and other 3D modeling techniques.

April also has over 30 years of business experience where she has worked as an Executive Assistant, Graphic Designer, Journalist, Film Maker, and Digital Outreach Coordinator for a variety of organizations that include The Los Alamos Monitor newspaper, Hutton Broadcasting Radio Group, Bechtel Nevada, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Free For Everyone

Our virtual lectures are a part of our Outreach and Education efforts. They are free to our Members and the General Public.  Recorded lectures are posted on YouTube and on the event page after the event occurs.

For questions about the event or how to register, please contact Susan Bowdoin (tac.connect@gmail.com) or Sarah Webber (saraht.tac@gmail.com).

This lecture series is sponsored by The Archaeological Conservancy and is made possible in part with grant support from the New Mexico Humanities Council.

*Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this (publication/program) do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Mexico Humanities Council.