Archaeology and Pueblo Culture of the Southwest

Trace 2,000 years of Pueblo Indian history, from early farming villages to the present

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona.

September 1–8, 2013

$2,795 (member*)
$2,920 (nonmember)

Deposit: $400
Balance due: July 2, 2013

*Minimum $100 level
(see Membership)

Of the American Southwest's ancient inhabitants, none are better known than the ancestral Pueblo Indians, whose culture took root more than 2,000 years ago, as hunters and gatherers in the Four Corners area began adopting a more settled way of life based on corn agriculture. Today, the region's majestic canyons and sweeping plains reveal abundant evidence of their presence—from exquisitely preserved stone-and-adobe dwellings to enigmatic images pecked on canyon walls.

In this introduction to Pueblo Indian history, we travel the Four Corners area—where the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico come together. With visits to some of the nation's premier archaeological treasures and a still-inhabited Pueblo village, our itinerary gives us a firsthand appreciation for the richness and complexity of this ancient culture that still thrives today.

Tour Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, where sites spanning more than 1,000 years of ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) history have been preserved

Visit the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, and tour its current excavation site, which includes a seventh-century great kiva

Explore the archaeological treasures of Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico and Canyon de Chelly and Navajo national monuments in Arizona

Visit the Hopi mesas, where Pueblo people have lived for centuries and where they continue to practice their traditions today

Scholars

Dr. William D. Lipe, former Crow Canyon director of research, past president of the Society for American Archaeology, and professor emeritus at Washington State University, is an internationally recognized figure in archaeology. Bill has conducted research in the northern Southwest for decades, published the results of his work in numerous books and professional journals, and taught archaeology to several generations of graduate students. He is also a favorite Crow Canyon trip leader and a member of the Center's Board of Trustees.

Listen to Bill's presentation Leaving Mesa Verde: The Great Pueblo Migrations of the 13th Century (Tea and Archaeology series, Tucson) (01:05:32)

Chris Toya is a Jemez Pueblo tribal member and archaeologist who serves as the traditional cultural properties manager for the pueblo. Chris is also actively engaged in traditional-knowledge and language-preservation programs in his community. Over the years, Chris has attended a number of on-campus cultural workshops and served as a scholar on several Crow Canyon travel adventures that have explored connections between the ancient and modern Pueblo worlds.

Summary Itinerary

For larger map, click here.

A detailed itinerary is available in the program brochure (PDF). Itinerary subject to change.

Sunday, September 1
Arrive in Cortez, Colorado; introduction; lodging in Cortez (D)

Monday, September 2
Mesa Verde National Park (Basketmaker through Pueblo III periods): museum, site tours, short hike into Spruce Tree House; lodging in Cortez (B, L, D)

Tuesday, September 3
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center campus; Dillard site, including a great kiva (Basketmaker period); lodging in Cortez (B, L, D)

Wednesday, September 4
Aztec Ruins National Monument (Pueblo II period, Chaco era): great houses, great kiva, ancient road remnants; lodging in Farmington, New Mexico (B, L, D)

Thursday, September 5
Canyon de Chelly National Monument: White House Ruin, Antelope House, rock art (Pueblo III period); Navajo history in the canyon (1800s to present); lodging at historic Thunderbird Lodge, Chinle, Arizona (B, L, D)

Friday, September 6
Historic Hubbell Trading Post and the Hopi Mesas (including village of Walpi) in Arizona; lodging at the Hopi Cultural Center, Second Mesa (B, L, D)

Saturday, September 7
Navajo National Monument, Arizona: Betatakin cliff dwelling (late Pueblo III); return to Cortez, Colorado; lodging in Cortez (B, L, D)

Sunday, September 8
Departures from Cortez (B)

B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner

Cancellation

The following penalty schedule applies: On or before July 2, 2013: $200 handling fee; after July 2, 2013: forfeiture of all payments. For complete cancellation and refund policy, see Terms and Conditions.

The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center's programs and admission practices are open to applicants of any race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation.

Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California
CST 2059347-50