Grant County Archaeological Society

09/12/2026

Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 6:00 PM: ONLINE ONLY (Zoom info below): A short business meeting at 6:00 pm will be followed by a Zoom presentation given by Emily Lena Jones, Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, entitled ” The
Zooarchaeology of the West Baker Site: Exploring Mimbres Human-Animal Relationships
Outside the Mimbres Heartland.” West Baker (LA 83574) is a Classic Mimbres site located nearly 100 km southwest of the Mimbres valley. Excavated in 1964 but never analyzed or published, the collections from this site have been the subject of a recent effort, led by archaeologists Patricia Gilman and Thatcher Selzer-Rogers, to bring this unusual site to light.
As part of this project, Dr. Jones analyzed the animal remains collected by the original excavators. The West Baker zooarchaeological assemblage is robust enough to provide
some insight into how people at this site interacted with the animals in the region—and how their interactions may have differed from those of people living in the Mimbres heartland. In
this talk, Dr. Jones will discuss the West Baker faunal assemblage and what it suggests about hunting, tool-making, and other activities at this unusual site.
Emily Lena Jones is Professor of Anthropology and Regents’ Lecturer at the University of New Mexico. A zooarchaeologist and environmental archaeologist, her research focuses on the connections between the human-animal relationship and environmental change across time and space. Most recently, her work has focused on the Columbian exchange in central
New Mexico, a topic that is the focus of a forthcoming book from University of New Mexico Press.
Join Zoom Meeting (Members and friends can get on early to chat …. about 5:40 or so.)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83210906871?pwd=m19mpOIbiWoOudq16ju5A3Yblm3zCr.1

Meeting chat link
https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/83210906871
Meeting ID: 832 1090 6871
Passcode: 369276

08/20/2026

We had a wonderful presentation tonight from Dave Greenwald, but prior to beginning he informed us of a hopefully temporary financial difficulty faced by the El Paso Archaeology Society, the oldest in Texas. Through a partnership with the Jornade Research Institute, the are offering a unique 8 day tour of the Jornada Region. It includes all hotel stays, travel, entry fees, knowledgable guides, and most meals. It is limited to the first 14 enrollees, and has a very short notification/turnaround time. I urge you take advantage of this opportunity, and all income beyond expenses go toward assisting EPAS.

08/15/2026

I regret to report that we will have to cancel the September 6 fieldtrip. Potential locations have failed to respond to our requests. Should there be a last minute change to the situation, we will announce it at our August 19 Potluck meeting at the Round Up Lodge.
If there are any of you who have not taken part in an in-depth tour of the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site, I would be happy to provide you with that in lue of other options. We can discuss it at the August meeting at the Round Up, or you can contact me at 575 536 3092.
Bill Hudson

08/13/2026

On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 6:00 PM: the GCAS will meet at the Roundup Lodge at 91 Acklin Hill Road in the Mimbres Valley for a potluck meal and socializing, followed by a short business meeting. Thereafter, archaeologist Dave Greenwald will discuss the complexity of settlement and land-use patterns in Tularosa Canyon between Mescalero and Tularosa during the Mesilla Phase (A.D. 250-1030), examine the presence of irrigation systems and their spatial associations with adjacent settlements, and discuss the function of the great kivas.
NOTE: Dave will be selling volumes that night (at a discount) about Jornada Research Institute’s research, so if you are interested, make sure you bring cash or checks – he doesn’t take credit cards.
David Greenwald has been an archaeologist for over 50 years, beginning his career at the Museum at Texas Tech University. Since 2011, Dave has served as President and Founder of Jornada Research Institute, focusing his research interests on the settlement history of the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Here, he has gathered researchers who share his vision of advancing research among the various cultural and natural resources that occur within this vast region, and developing opportunities for public involvement and education. Mr. Greenwald also serves as a board member of the Archaeological Society of New Mexico and has been a recent recipient of the Bice Award for volunteer services in archaeology. Dave serves as the President of Jornada Research Institute and Director of the Rio Tularosa Research Program and excavations at the Cornelius Locus in Ruidoso.
Bring your best potluck dish and enjoy the evening – hope to see you there!

07/31/2026

Summer Interns from Archaeology Southwest have been working at the WNMU Museum this Summer The have put together a brand new exhibit. Artifacts and photographs from the NAN Ranch that have never been exhibited will be on display at the WNMU Museum on Friday, July 31st from 10am-2pm and you are invited!

06/28/2026

For all those Archaeology Fieldschool students who just left the Mimbres Valley - come back often.

06/22/2026

This is a great addition to the WNMU Museum, and quite a coup for Dr. Dannielle Romero, Ph.D.
https://lascrucestoday.com/wnmu-museum-seri-comcaac-basket-collection-expansion/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSmb8FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeGjjM5rrPDwPvoZMpLDWd6XGbVtfDkSD_ZHqNMRjOvAkkhXctf9Ek8TKhe-I_aem_rMCKhApkH4JCShC9aKfOQA

News- Keeping Cruces Connected, this is Las Cruces Today - The Western New Mexico University Museum has expanded its permanent collection through a transfer of culturally significant artifacts from the Museum of Northern Arizona. Among the newly acquired items is this traditional Seri (Comcaac) bask...

06/22/2026

The 23rd Biennial Mogollon Archaeology Conference sponsored by the Department of Anthropology and the Anthropology GSO of New Mexico State University will be held at the NMSU Corbett Center, October 8-10, 2026. The sessions will contain presentations by leading archaeologists from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas.

Web Site: http://www.lonjul.net/MogollonAC2026/

The general topic of the presentations is Mogollon Archaeology including the Mimbres, Jornada, and Northern Chihuahua areas including WSMR Friends of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology

06/17/2026

Thank you to the anonymous donor who took time to visit the WNMU Museum yesterday to deliver an assemblage of potsherds (some 20 lbs. worth!) and stone items from a soon-to-be-bulldozed location in the Pinos Altos area. The Museum contacted the GCAS to handle the donation. It's GCAS policy to preserve items like these for use in our educational programs, for public outreach, and to inform our own members about our area's prehistory and the value of preserving artifacts for future generations. Thank you, Anonymous Donor, for having treated these items with such care. If you can, please stop by the GCAS's information booth at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site's Hummingbird Festival on August 1-2 to meet some of our members in person!

Send a message to learn more

06/16/2026

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM*: the GCAS will meet at the Roundup Lodge at 91 Acklin Hill Road in the Mimbres Valley for a potluck meal and socializing, followed by a short business meeting. Afterward, we will welcome the Gila National Forest’s District archaeologist, Chris Adams, who will share his, Charles Haecker’s, and Fumi Arakawa’s research of the Seco Creek High-Altitude Shrine Site in Southwest New Mexico.
Like all GCAS meetings, this presentation is open to the public. The 2026 field school participants are also invited, so bring your best potluck dish to share with the hard working students who showed us their progress at our last fieldtrip

Prior to the regular meeting,the GCAS Board of Directors will meet at the Roundup starting at 5:00 PM to discuss current issues. All GCAS members are welcome to come early to observe the BOD in action and ask questions and offer opinions (although only the BOD members will be voting). We hope to see you there!

Send a message to learn more