Education - San Juan Basin Archaeological Society

SJBAS members learn about the archaeology, culture, and early history of the Four Corners region. Presentations at our monthly meetings and PAAC classes presented by History Colorado are a wonderful way to acquire more in-depth knowledge. Our Reading List includes many books that cover the archaeology, culture, and early history of the Four Corners region. Our newsletter, the Moki Messenger, often includes educational articles. This web page contains links to webinars and various resources on the Internet that offer excellent information and insight.

A bird’s eye view of Chaco

Pablo Alvarez has been working on a project to create a virtual reconstruction of the Chaco landscape at its peak using 3D design technologies. He also created reconstructions of some of the canyon great houses, a “then and now” view overlapping the ruins with the reconstruction, and a general overview of Chacoan architectural elements and Chaco culture. The content is released as Creative Commons.

https://www.chaco3d.com/?ms=sat_email&utm_campaign=sat&utm_medium=email&utm_source=aswemail&emci=757712e4-8076-f111-ac9c-000d3a14b6d6&emdi=76c15e3d-f876-f111-ac9c-000d3a14b6d6&ceid=8158

PAAC lecture series – Introduction to Historical Archeology

A PAAC online lecture series entitled “Introduction to Historical Archeology” is available. The 5-part series is presented by Dr. Holly Norton, the State Archeologist. The first episode is free, and the entire series can be purchased for $10. This series can be accessed here: https://www.historycolorado.org/paac-online-lecture-series.

No Greater Act: Pueblo Resistance

This New Mexico PBS documentary is narrated by New Mexico resident and Oscar winner Wes Studi. Producer Pamela Pierce says the documentary tells the little-known story of the New Mexico pueblo resistance against colonization beginning in 1540. Follow this link to PBS special programming: https://www.pbs.org/video/no-greater-act-pueblo-resistance-6blfl7/

Room 33 – Chaco Canyon’s Room with a View into the Past

Phillip Tuwaletstiwa’s DNA story, Room 33 – Chaco Canyon’s Room with a View into the Past, produced by Larry Ruiz and Cloudy Ridge Productions, is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/cuFzXLH95LY.

Durango Public Library

The Durango Public Library’s Southwest Collection is a great starting point to learn about the history of Durango and La Plata County, as well as the Four Corners region.

Many of the items in our Southwest Collection are rare or out of print, so the Collection is available only for in-library use. The Collection includes maps, photographs, and books focused on the history of the region with topics including:

Early exploration reports
Archaeology
Local indigenous tribes
Hispanic influence
Railroads and mining from the late 19th and 20th centuries

For questions about how to access the Southwest Collection or any other research materials, ask at the Reference Desk on the second floor or email: reference@durangoco.gov.