• Donate
    • Donate
    • Member Circles and Benefits
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Today
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • Student Membership
  • Take Action
    • Volunteer Program
    • Make Your Voice Heard
  • About
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • What We Do
    • Position Papers
    • Team & People
    • Job Openings
    • Partners & Friends
    • Annual Reports
    • Policies & Financials
  • Things to Do
    • Events
    • Archaeology Café
    • Exhibits
    • Classes
    • Field School
  • Explore
    • Free Resources
    • Introduction to Southwestern Archaeology
    • Projects
    • Protection Efforts
    • Ancient Cultures
    • Videos
    • Places to Visit
  • Store
    • Archaeology Southwest Magazine
    • All Products
  • News
    • Blog
    • Press Releases/Announcements
    • Preservation Archaeology Today
    • Sign up for E-News
  • Donate
    • Donate
    • Member Circles and Benefits
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Today
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • Student Membership
  • Take Action
    • Volunteer Program
    • Make Your Voice Heard
X
  • About
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • What We Do
    • Position Papers
    • Team & People
    • Job Openings
    • Partners & Friends
    • Annual Reports
    • Policies & Financials
  • Things to Do
    • Events
    • Archaeology Café
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Exhibits
    • Classes
    • Field School
  • Explore
    • Free Resources
    • SW Archaeology 101
    • Projects
    • Protection Efforts
    • Ancient Cultures
    • Videos
    • Places to Visit
  • Store
    • Archaeology Southwest Magazine
    • All Products
  • News
    • Blog
    • Press Releases/Announcements
    • Preservation Archaeology Today
    • Sign up for E-News

Prelude to Fieldwork

Preservation Archaeology Blog
  • Home
  • >
  • Preservation Archaeology Blog
  • >
  • Prelude to Fieldwork

Leslie Aragon, Field Supervisor

Last week, we kicked off the 2014 Preservation Archaeology Field School. Students arrived in Tucson from all over the country, from Hawaii to Massachusetts, and spent a few days learning about Preservation Archaeology and Salado culture.

At the Himdag Ki museum in Topawa, Arizona, students met members of the Tohono O’odham Nation and toured their facilities to learn about local Native American culture.

Andrew and a Valencia Sherd
Andrew examines a pottery sherd on our tour of the Valencia site. Photo by Hannah Zanotto.

We visited the Valencia Site, where students learned to “adjust their eyes” to see archaeology. They learned how to spot ceramic sherds, flaked stone, and other artifacts, as well as how to look at rises and falls in the landscape that might mark features.

Sherd at Valencia Site
Students get their boots on the ground learning to identify archaeological features and artifacts at the Valencia site. Photo by Hannah Zanotto.

We also had a tour of the San Xavier del Bac Mission, where students learned about how local indigenous groups interacted with Spanish missionaries. We even got to go up into the old choir loft!  We ended this prelude to fieldwork with a visit to the pottery vault at the Arizona State Museum.

San Xavier del Bac
Students learn about Southwestern history and culture on a tour of Mission San Xavier del Bac. Photo by Hannah Zanotto.

After that, we headed to Mule Creek for more archaeological adventures. The students and staff will be updating the blog every few days. Check back often!

Arizona State Museum Pottery Display
Displays at the Arizona State Museum help us begin to compare features of different ancient and contemporary pottery types. Photo by Hannah Zanotto.

 

Explore the News

  • Preservation Archaeology Blog
  • Press Releases/Announcements
  • Preservation Archaeology Today

Related to This

  • Post At Home

Want to help us? Make a donation

or take action

Cyber SouthwestRespect Great BendHands-On ArchaeologySave History

© 2025 Archaeology Southwest

520.882.6946
Contact
  • My Store Account
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Press Room