Picuris Pueblo is arguably the oldest continuously occupied settlement in North America, having been the home of a Tiwa-speaking community from the 10th century to the present day. Archaeological evidence suggests the pueblo grew rapidly during the 14th and 15th centuries, and Spanish colonial records demonstrate that by the end of the 16th century Picuris was a major trade center connecting the resident communities of the Rio Grande valley to Apache bison-hunters on the Plains. This field school is a collaborative project between archaeologists and Picuris Pueblo and explores Picuris' rich history of agricultural intensification, Apache visitation, and the development of Plains-Pueblo trade. Participants in the field school will learn technical skills including geospatial applications and archaeological survey as well as ceramic, lithic, phytolith and pollen analysis. In addition to fieldwork students will partake in community events, lectures, and site visits to other Tiwa and Tewa speaking communities in the Rio Grande region to further their understanding of the ongoing indigenous history of northern New Mexico.

For more information and to read about last year's field school program, check out our project website and Instagram. To apply, fill out the application found here and send it to lmmontgomery@email.arizona.edu.