For the Journal

Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance presents Dr. Paul Reed on Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez for a presentation titled “Overlooked No More! The Pueblo Archaeology of the Chuska Valley.”

The Chuska Valley, west of Chaco Canyon, has long been seen as an integral component of the ancient Puebloan and Chaco worlds. Research over the past several decades has focused primarily on its role as a provider of high-elevation timber, gray ware ceramics, and Narbona Pass chert to Chacoan society. Missing from many of these studies, however is the importance of the Chuska Valley as a primary Puebloan residential and ritual center. In this presentation, Reed will explore archaeological research in the Chuska Valley over the past 50 years as he more holistically encompasses the ancient Puebloan history of the Valley.

Reed is a Preservation Archaeologist with the Tucson-based Archaeology Southwest and works as a Chaco Scholar at Salmon Ruins, in New Mexico. His many journal articles, reports, and edited volumes have spanned his 30-year career. For the past few years, Reed has investigated the southern Chacoan periphery and the Mogollon interface with colleagues at Archaeology Southwest, UCLA, and SUNY-Binghamton as well as working to protect the Greater Chaco Landscape from the effects of expanded oil-gas development.

More information: Diane McBride, ED for SCCA, at 970-560-1643.