Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Third Thursday Food for Thought”

This exploratory excavation at the Harris site exposed the hearth and entryway of a Three Circle phase kiva and provided evidence that the site’s residents “ritually retired” this kiva before building a much bigger one. Photo courtesy of Barbara J. Roth.

Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Third Thursday Food for Thought” dinner featuring presentation “Kiva Rituals, Powerful People, and Community Development in the Mimbres VAlley, New Mexico” will be given by UNLV Professor Barbara J. Roth at ULike Asian Buffet Restaurant, 330 S. Wilmot Rd., Tucson on February 18, 2016 from 6:00-8:30 pm. In this presentation, University of Nevada-Las Vegas Anthropology Professor Barbara J. Roth explores the role of ritual in the development of communities in the Mimbres Valley of southwestern New Mexico from A.D. 500-1100. Barbara’s recent archaeological excavations at the Harris site pithouse village in the valley has shown the important role of kiva rituals in keeping the community working together. As populations grew, certain individuals within these communities gained power, possibly due to their sponsorship of and participation in these rituals and associated feasts. In some communities like the Harris site these powerful individuals were not able to maintain their status, while in others they used their status to become “core households” as pueblos developed. At the Harris site, Barbara and her research crews have excavated many pithouses, two kivas, and an associated plaza examining the relationships among powerful people, rituals, and community development. She will discuss what happened at Harris when this all fell apart and explore the reasons why we don’t see this same thing happening at other sites in the Mimbres Valley, but instead see the later construction of large Classic period Mimbres pueblos. Guests may select and purchase their own dinners from the restaurant’s menu. There is no entry fee but donations will be requested to benefit Old Pueblo’s educational efforts. Because seating is limited in order for the program to be in compliance with the Fire Code, those wishing to attend must call 520-798-1201 and must have their reservations confirmed before 5 p.m. Wednesday February 17.