NMAC Spring Field Conference

Thanks to the kindness of the Gila National Forest, the Bureau of Land
Management, and archaeologists from the universities of Nevada and Colorado and
the Center for Desert Archaeology, we can visit some of the most famous sites in
the region. And, don’t miss the October Mimbres workshop rescheduled from the
spring. It will start at the Western Museum for lectures and ceramic labs and
continue with site visits up the Gila River and in the Mimbres Valley.

So, want to have a fun filled three days learning about Pithouse, Classic Mimbres,
and Post-Mimbres archaeology from the pros? Want to impress your colleagues,
clients, and regulators with your in-depth knowledge of southwestern New Mexico
ceramics and cultures? Need to earn a few days to gain that BLM Southwest New
Mexico permit or get the HPD education credit? Then make a date for the Summer
Mimbres Archaeology Workshop. This adventure is brought to you by NMAC, the
Gila National Forest, the BLM, Western New Mexico University, and the New
Mexico Gas Company.

The workshop will be held in beautiful Silver City and the greater Mimbres region
from June 23 to 25. The field trip will take you to sites you couldn’t get on by
yourself. On the first day, Dr. Barbara Roth of the University of Nevada Las Vegas
will lead us on a tour of her excavations at the Harris site, a pithouse village made
famous by Dr. Haury and now Dr. Roth. It will be followed by a visit to the Mule
Creek Project where Drs. Jeff Clark and Deb Huntley of the Center for Desert
Archaeology are conducting research on the Salado phenomenon. Although they
are working on pueblo habitations, you will probably see Mule Creek obsidian
while there.

Day two will begin with a tour of the Black Mountain site, the type site for the
Black Mountain phase (AD 1200-1300). Katy Putsavage, a NMAC grant recipient
from the University of Colorado, will show us her Black Mountain phase
excavations and discuss her research on the ceramics. Later, Tom Holcomb, Las
Cruces BLM archaeologist, will take us on an exciting trip through Old Town
Pueblo, a recently excavated Classic Mimbres pueblo that also has a Black
Mountain occupation.

On the third day, Bob Schiowitz, Gila National Forest archaeologist, will guide us
to Mimbres agricultural features and petroglyphs near Fort Bayard and then if we
are lucky, down to the famous Cameron Creek Ruins excavated by Bradfield in the
1920s. You will get a chance to use your newly gained ceramic knowledge and to
see subtle pithouse depressions, Classic Mimbres ruins, and some fantastic rock
art.

Please remember that training courses sponsored by the BLM may be credited
towards the BLM permits. Two days of credit will be awarded for every day of
training. In the case of this workshop, six days may be applied to the BLM
experience requirement. The NM HPD will also offer education credit. The BLM and
NMAC will issue a certificate (suitable for framing!) to each person who completes
the workshop. This is an excellent opportunity for companies to get low cost
training for their employees while individuals work towards those much sought
after Southwest New Mexico permits. The course is limited to 25 people so don't
put off registering.

The cost of this workshop is a bargain at only $30 (that’s an amazing $10 per day)
(plus a $25 NMAC 2011 membership fee for non-members: see NMAC website for
membership form). Money from the workshop will go to the NMAC Grants Program.
To register, first e-mail Chris Turnbow at chris.turnbow@nmgco.com to confirm
your reservation. Reservations will be on a first come, first served basis and don’t
delay, it books fast. All participants must have paid by June 20 to The Mimbres
Workshop, NMAC, PO Box 25691, Albuquerque, NM 87125 or email Chris to make
special arrangements.

Stay tuned: The dates of the Fall Mimbres Workshop will be announced very soon.