PECOS 2009, AUGUST 6-9

 

A traditional gathering focused on understanding the archaeological work being done across the Southwest, with a special focus on contemporary regional and professional issues.

 

In 1955, Earl Morris wrote the following to A.V. Kidder about their long friendship:

 

"To me it has been a golden thread running unstrained through the tangled skein of existence ever since the first day of our meeting."

 

The same things can be said about the Pecos Conference. It has been a "golden thread" and it certainly has run "through a tangled skein of existence." The conference was initiated at Pecos, New Mexico, in 1927 by A. V. Kidder for the sharing of information. Ever since, with the exception of a ten-year hiatus, it has been held annually at various Southwest locations. This will be the 72nd meeting to present academic papers and recent research concerning archaeology in the American Southwest for professional archaeologists, avocationals, and the interested general public.

 

Conference excitement will be generated by:

  • The Thursday night reception.
  • Hearing about current research on Friday and Saturday.
  • Moving a large, heavy stone with prehistoric technology.
  • A Friday Night presentation by author Craig Childs
  • Job Fair on Saturday afternoon.
  • Camping with friends and families.
  • Reunions among 500 or so colleagues.
  • A catered dinner and dance featuring live music on Saturday night.
  • Tours of archaeological sites on Sunday.

 

For 2009 the "thread" leads to Southwest Colorado where the Conference will be hosted by the Cortez Cultural Center and sponsored by:

  • Fort Lewis College
  • The US Forest Service
  • The Bureau of Land Management
  • The National Park Service
  • Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
  • The Colorado Archaeological Society
  • The City of Cortez and Montezuma County
  • McElmo Canyon Research Institute
  • ARAMARK

 

The Thursday night Reception and Registration will take place at the Cortez Cultural Center in downtown Cortez, Colorado. Then events will move to the group area at Lake McPhee Campground near Dolores for the duration of Pecos activities.