About
The Pecos Conference
The
purpose of the Pecos Conference, as Alfred
Vincent Kidder put it in summing up the first
such gathering, is to...
"...bring
about contact between workers in the Southwest field
to discuss fundamental problems of Southwestern prehistory;
and to formulate problems of Southwest prehistory;
to pool knowledge of facts and techniques, and to
lay a foundation for a unified system of nomenclature."
Deliberately
informal, the Pecos Conference affords Southwestern
archaeologists a superlative opportunity to talk with
one another, both by presenting field reports and
by casual discussions. It is a chance to see old friends,
meet new ones, pick up fresh information, organize
future conferences, and have a great time.
In
recent years, Native Americans, avocational archaeologists,
the general public and media organizations have come
to play an increasingly important role, serving as
participants and as audience, to celebrate archaeological
research and to mark cultural continuity.
Q:
Why should an archaeologist (or anyone) attend the
Pecos Conference?
A:
To learn about the prehistory and history of the Greater
Southwest; to create and sustain "strong ties"
with colleagues; and, to better appreciate the power
and capabilities inherent in the "strength of
weak ties" (see Granovetter
1973 and Gladwell
1999; see also Lichtenstein's 2005 New
York Times article about the Pecos Conference).
About
The 2006 Pecos Conference
The
tradition of research collaboration and sharing that
began in 1927 at Pecos Pueblo continues in the San
Juan Basin at Navajo Lake (near Bloomfield, New Mexico),
under the guidance of dedicated archaeologists, tribal
representatives, and local, state and federal agency
sponsors...
This
year, 2006, marks the 79th anniversary of the Pecos
Conference, first convened by Alfred V. Kidder at
Pecos Pueblo, New Mexico, in 1927. Because the Conference
was not held during certain years (due to World War
II and other circumstances [cf. * Woodbury 1993]),
this year’s meeting will not be the 79th annual
gathering.
This
year is, in fact, the 69th annual meeting of the Pecos
Conference. In the early 1990s, the numbering of the
Pecos Conference became confused, when the anniversary
year was substituted for the actual count of prior
conferences.
Clearly,
we cannot mend past problems with the numbering of
the Pecos Conference. Our solution is to indicate
that this year’s conference will be the 69th
occurrence and refer formally to this year’s
event simply as the Pecos Conference 2006.
Our
unifying concept -- Everything at one location! After
the Thursday evening Conference kick-off reception
and registration at Salmon Ruins Museum, all events
on Friday and Saturday will take place at the Elks
Campground. To hear an entire suite of Pecos
Conference presentations, to gain direct access
to speakers & colleagues, and to enjoy the pleasure
of saving on travel expenses, plan on coming, camping,
and staying.
*
Woodbury,
Richard 1993 Sixty Years of Southwestern Archaeology:
A History of the Pecos Conference. University of New
Mexico Press, Albuquerque. ( See also: Downum
1996 )
Special
Note -- Upcoming Pecos Conference Locations
2007
Pecos Conference, Pecos National Historical Park,
Pecos NM
2008 Pecos Conference, Flagstaff AZ
