Leslie Aragon, Field Supervisor
Last week, we kicked off the 2014 Preservation Archaeology Field School. Students arrived in Tucson from all over the country, from Hawaii to Massachusetts, and spent a few days learning about Preservation Archaeology and Salado culture.
At the Himdag Ki museum in Topawa, Arizona, students met members of the Tohono O’odham Nation and toured their facilities to learn about local Native American culture.
We visited the Valencia Site, where students learned to “adjust their eyes” to see archaeology. They learned how to spot ceramic sherds, flaked stone, and other artifacts, as well as how to look at rises and falls in the landscape that might mark features.
We also had a tour of the San Xavier del Bac Mission, where students learned about how local indigenous groups interacted with Spanish missionaries. We even got to go up into the old choir loft! We ended this prelude to fieldwork with a visit to the pottery vault at the Arizona State Museum.
After that, we headed to Mule Creek for more archaeological adventures. The students and staff will be updating the blog every few days. Check back often!
