Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 12:00 noon, free!

While working in southern New Mexico, OAS Executive Director John Taylor-Montoya documented hundreds of historic mining sites dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Previous to this study, received wisdom had been that the majority of the hard-rock mines were considered “commuter” sites: miners lived in nearby communities, traveled to the mines, camped while working, and returned home. It was not uncommon, however, to find numerous non-industrial artifacts at these sites. Many of these found items pointed to other potential occupants, namely women and children. This talk will include a brief tour of mining sites in southern New Mexico as well as evidence of and the implications for the family of a hard-rock miner living on the range.

This talk, which will only be offered in-person, will be held in the OAS library at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology. Talks are informal and admission is free. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This talk begins Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at noon. Look for special announcements regarding this and other talks on the FOA Facebook page or on the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies website.

The Center for New Mexico Archaeology (7 Old Cochiti Road) is located off of Caja del Rio Road, across from Challenge New Mexico on the way to the Santa Fe Municipal Golf Course. Take 599 to South Meadows Road, continue through the traffic circle west along the Frontage Road to Caja del Rio Road. CNMA is on the left-hand side of the road and is the large building with white sail-like skylights on the roof.