The San Juan Basin Archaeological Society is a nonprofit organization based in Durango, Colorado, offering public archaeology lectures, field trips, and educational programs throughout the Four Corners region. Our programs are open to anyone interested in the archaeology, history, and culture of the American Southwest, from longtime enthusiasts to those who are simply curious about the past beneath our feet.
Next Meeting – February 11th
Our next meeting will be held in person and on Zoom on Wednesday, February 11th, at 7:00 p.m. in the lyceum at the Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies. After a brief business meeting, Jakob Sedig Ph.D. will present “New Data, Old Questions: Ancient DNA and the Archaeology of Northwest Mexico and the US Southwest.” A reception will start things off at 6:30 p.m. in the CSWS foyer.
Recent ancient DNA research in northern Mexico and the U.S. Southwest has produced data from hundreds of individuals across wide geographic and time spans, offering powerful new insights into long-standing archaeological questions. These studies are reshaping our understanding of how ancient communities interacted, moved, and lived. For example, DNA evidence shows that ancestry linked to northern Mexico spread into California before the adoption of maize agriculture, and that Trincheras populations in Sonora were genetically distinct from neighboring groups in Chihuahua. Ancient DNA is also illuminating individual life histories, such as a child buried at Paquimé whose parents were more closely related than first cousins. In this presentation, Jakob Sedig will review these findings and discuss how the rapidly growing ancient DNA record is transforming our understanding of the Greater Southwest and Northwest Mexico.
Jakob Sedig earned his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, where his research focused on the archaeology of the U.S. Southwest, particularly the Mimbres region of southwestern New Mexico and the social, demographic, and environmental changes of the Transitional phase (CE 900–1000). He subsequently served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Ethics and Outreach Officer at the Reich Laboratory of Medical and Population Genetics at Harvard University, working to integrate ancient DNA more fully with archaeological research. His work has addressed both long-standing archaeological questions and emerging applications of ancient DNA, including refining radiocarbon chronologies, while also emphasizing ethical engagement and collaboration with Indigenous communities. Jakob is currently a Senior Archaeologist with Chronicle Heritage and serves as a Principal Investigator for the firm’s Phoenix and Albuquerque offices.
Link to Join Webinar
https://fortlewis.zoom.us/j/94032371260
Meeting ID: 940 3237 1260
February 11th – New Member Orientation
This is your chance to learn about the benefits of being a member and how your membership supports local archaeology education. Starts at 6:15 p.m. in the Lyceum at the Center of Southwest Studies, just before the monthly meeting.
SJBAS Newsletter – Moki Messenger
Moki – January-February
SJBAS Zoom Presentations on YouTube
Zoom Presentation Archives
Educational Opportunities for Winter 2026
In-Person Opportunity
April 4 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – PAAC Lithics Analysis Workshop will be presented by Sarah A. Allaun, Assistant State Archaeologist. The workshop will be held at the Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, and registration will open soon. Follow this link to course flyer: Lithics Analysis Workshop. Online registration here.
Online Educational Opportunities for Winter, 2026
January 21- April 22 – 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Archaeology of the Southwest – Last chance to sign up for this 14-week course which is offered by The Old Pueblo Archaeology Center. Zoom recordings of the classes will be sent to students each week so you can stay current with the course even if you miss an occasional class. Registration and payment ($109) must be completed by January 19th at 5:00 p.m. For more information or to register go to info@oldpueblo.org or call 520-798-1201.
January 15 – 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Petroglyphs, Pottery, and Painting in the Ancient Southwest presented by Kelly Hays-Gilpin. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m_Clj43rRjuTCIHylJI-mQ#/registration
February 3 – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Tracking the First Americans by Vance T. Holliday. Register at https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/event/tracking-the-first-americans/
March 3 – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Road Signs and Walking Shoes: Sandal and Sandal Imagery as Part and Parcel of the Chaco Road System presented by Benjamin A. Bellorado. Register at https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/event/road-signs-and-walking-shoes/
The San Juan Basin Archaeological Society (SJBAS) is a Colorado Nonprofit Corporation. SJBAS consists of people who are interested in the archaeology, culture, and early history of the Four Corners region. We have members of all ages and backgrounds, some with extensive training in archaeology and others with more limited knowledge, but a strong desire to learn.
Our mission is to advocate for and promote public awareness and preservation of archaeological, cultural, and historical resources, primarily of the Four Corners region of the American Southwest.
Members are eligible to participate in SJBAS field trips and they receive a monthly newsletter, the Moki Messenger, with information about current SJBAS activities and other matters of archaeological and historical interest.
We support and endow the John W. Sanders Internship and Education Fund. This fund provides ongoing internships for Fort Lewis College students at the Center of Southwest Studies. Donations are welcome to these 501(C)(3) funds: Donate.