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TAS Brown Bag Presentation - Aug 4, 12 Noon

When
04 Aug 2014
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location
BLM offices on Cruz Alta Rd

TAS Summer Brown Bag Series

Excavations in our Backyard

Monday, August 4th, noon, BLM conference room on Cruz Alta

Dr. Catrina Whitley is in her 4th season directing volunteers at BaahKu project near Arroyo Seco. Learn about early migration patterns in Taos Valley and this season's findings from a Pot Creek Phase (AD 1200-1250) unit pueblo.

The BaahKu Archaeological Project excavations are the first to explore a Pot Creek Phase unit pueblo in the northern portion of the Taos Valley and one of only a few sites excavated in this area since the 1960s and 1970s. Dr. Whitley will discuss the excavations to date and theories of radiation exposure evident in skeletal remains. She will also extrapolate on the need to broadly test areas surrounding sites, as evidence of a potential shrine have been located outside the expected area for cultural deposits.

Dr. Catrina Whitley earned her degrees in Archaeology from Southern Methodist University and completed her Ph.D. while on a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a Philanthropic Education Organization Scholarship. She works in Texas and New Mexico on archaeological projects as both an archaeologist and bioarchaeologist and holds two Research Associate positions, one at Southern Methodist University and the second at the Office of Archaeological Studies, Museum of New Mexico. One portion of her research agenda focuses on investigating ritual and culturally diverse patterns inherent in mortuary practices and how the context of a burial can inform on migration and the identification of migrants. In conjunction with the Office of Archaeological Studies, Museum of New Mexico, Dr. Whitley is co-principal investigator on a project evaluating the effects of natural radiation exposure from earthen architecture on health in prehistoric and modern peoples of the Northern Rio Grande.

Taos Archaeological Society

PO Box 143

Taos, NM, 87571

Admin@TaosArch.org