Tim Maxwell, Ph.D. (Museum of New Mexico, Office of Archaeological Studies) The possible sources of turquoise found throughout Mesoamerica have long drawn scholarly attention. Although the southwestern United States contains several major sources, turquoise also occurs in Mexico. Can researchers determine the source of turquoise incorporated in thousands of Mesoamerican artifacts?

Undergraduates from Davidson, UNC Charlotte, and Winthrop will talk about their summer 2026 experiences on digs in Ecuador, Italy, Peru, and Sicily.