Pecos Conference 2005 Field Trips ...

On Sunday, August 14, a variety of tours are offered for registered conference goers. Sign-up for tours will be at the reception/registration and at the conference. Below is a partial listing of tours and more will be listed at the start of the conference.

Tsiping Pueblo

Forest Archeologist Mike Bremer will lead a special hike to Tsiping Pueblo, one of the best preserved masonry pueblos in the northern Rio Grande area. This site is in a unique setting (defensive) and is located opposite Cerro Pedernal, a significant lithic source area. The hike to Tsiping is very strenuous. Meet at Bode’s store on the Abiquiu highway. High clearance vehicle, carpool, water, lunch and good hiking boots are needed.

Excavations at Burnt Corn Pueblo and tour San Marcos Pueblo

James Snead will lead a tour of his excavations at Burnt Corn Pueblo (a Coalition Period village) located outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The tour will then proceed to San Marcos Pueblo, an adobe pueblo with a historic mission component. Limited to 30 people. Water, hat, sunscreen, boots and lunch. Car pooling is recommended.

Large Pueblo Sites of the Jemez

Michael Elliott will lead a tour to some of the largest pueblo sites in the Jemez Mountains. Mike is planning on visiting three sites, time permitting. Car pooling with high clearance vehicles will be necessary since most of the tour will be on Forest Service Roads. Limited to 20 people. Water, hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and lunch.

Obsidian Quarries in the Valles Caldera

Ana Steffen will lead a special tour within the newly created Valles Caldera National Preserve to the Cerro del Medio obsidian source areas. There will be a charge of $20.00 per person for this tour which covers the cost of the transport vans and drivers. This is a rare opportunity to visit one of the most significant lithic source areas in the southwest and the chance to see the largest elk herd in New Mexico, all within an extinct volcano. Limited to 35 people. Water, hat, sunscreen, boots, a check for $20.00 and lunch. Meet at the junction of State Road 4 and Forest Road 289.

Burnt Mesa Pueblo and Coalition Sites on the Pajarito Plateau

Tim Kohler and Craig Allen will lead a group down Burnt Mesa within Bandelier National Monument. Dr. Kohler excavated at Burnt Mesa Pueblo and will offer interesting insights on these unique and short-lived plaza pueblos. Dr. Allen will present his interpretations on the environmental conditions that allowed the plaza pueblos to appear at high elevations on the Pajarito Plateau. Limited to 30 people. Water, hat, sunscreen, boots and lunch. Meet at the Burnt Mesa Trailhead.

Frijoles Canyon and Frijoles Mesa Archeological Sites

Bob Powers will lead a hike through Frijoles Canyon and then venture onto the mesa top areas where most of the sites are located. The tour will enable visitors to see a number of different site types including Coalition Pueblos, agricultural fields and field house structures in the Bandelier Backcountry. This will be a moderately strenuous hike and recommended for those in good physical shape. The entrance fee to the park is $10.00 per vehicle, so carpooling will save you money. Remember, all money collected at the entrance station is used for park projects - including archeology! Limited to 20 people. Water, hat sunscreen, boots and lunch. Meet at the visitor center in Bandelier National Monument.