The San Juan Basin Archaeological Society offers monthly archaeology lectures, field trips, and educational programs throughout the Four Corners region. Our monthly presentations are open to anyone interested in the archaeology, history, and cultural heritage of the American Southwest. Guided field trips are open to SJBAS members.
Next Meeting and Lecture – October 14th
Our next meeting will be held in person and on Zoom on Wednesday, October 14th, at 7:00 p.m. in the lyceum at the Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies. Joseph Birkmann, PhD, will not be able to present his topic at the meeting. In his place, Fort Lewis College Assistant Professor of Anthropology Mario Borrero, PhD, will present “How can digital tools help us see the archaeological record in new ways?” A reception will start things off at 6:30 p.m. in the CSWS foyer.
Drawing on recent fieldwork in the American Southwest and Central America, archaeologist Mario Borrero explores how photographs, maps, and three-dimensional models connect field research with interpretation, teaching, and public engagement. This visually rich presentation will present data from the Fort Lewis College Southwest Archaeology and Curation Field School 2026 field season where students documented archaeological landscapes and worked with existing collections in southwestern Colorado, then turns to collaborative efforts to record carved Maya monuments in southern Belize. Capturing photographs, enhanced surface images, and digital models reveal how different ways of recording and viewing an object can bring its details into focus. Additional examples come from scanning projects undertaken during travels through Guatemala and Mexico. The talk also considers how 3D printing, virtual environments, and AI-assisted tools can support archaeological learning and communication. Throughout, Borrero examines the choices involved in creating digital records: what they preserve, what they leave out, and how accuracy, interpretation, and responsible stewardship shape their use.
Link to Join Webinar – https://fortlewis.zoom.us/j/94032371260 – Meeting ID: 940 3237 1260
San Juan Basin Archaeological Society
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 in 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, cultural, 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.