NOVEMBER 5, 2014
Desert Foothills Chapter-AAS presents Steve Lekson on November 12
“End of the Anasazi: the Fall of Chaco Canyon and the Mesa Verde Migrations” is a presentation that outlines what some think of as the disappearance of the prehistoric Anasazi (pre-puebloan) peoples. The general Four Corners area time frame are the last two centuries before 1300, the 12th and 13th centuries. The focus of the presentation encompasses the history of Chaco Canyon, Aztec Ruins and Mesa Verde. The events of these centuries culminated in the out-migration of tens of thousands of "Anasazi" or Ancestral Pueblo peoples from the Four Corners area and result in the origins of Pueblos as they exist today. These three areas are deemed cultural important today and can be visited under National Park Service protection: Chaco Culture National Historic Park (NM), Aztec Ruins National Monument (NM), and Mesa Verde National Park (CO).
Stephen H. Lekson Ph.D. is currently University of Colorado, Boulder: Curator of Archaeology, Museum of Natural History, and Professor of Anthropology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 1988, and held research, curatorial, or administrative positions with the University of Tennessee, Eastern New Mexico University, the National Park Service, the Arizona State Museum, the Museum of New Mexico, and Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Steve Lekson directed more than 20 archaeological projects throughout the Southwest. He was Editor of the journal Kiva (2006-2011) and he is currently Contributing Editor for Archaeology magazine. Mr. Lekson's publications include a dozen books, many chapters in edited volumes, and articles in journals and magazines. From his formative years as Eastern New Mexico University: Research Archaeologist to National Park Service Chaco Center: Archaeologist, there are few people that match his extensive knowledge and background studying prehistoric Anasazi.
The general public may attend an Arizona Archaeology Society – Desert Foothills Chapter meeting at no charge, except for the holiday party in December. The AAS-DFC meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, September through May. There are refreshments available at 7 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. usually ending prior to 9 p.m. This special engagement is in the Holland Center (Foothills Community Center), 34250 North 60th Street, Building B, Scottsdale, Arizona 85366 (just south of Carefree Highway). www.azarchsoc.org/desertfoothills
