In northern New Mexico, “querencia” is a folk concept used to express a sense of longing for and belonging to a specific place. For many Spanish and Mexican land grant heirs, querencia is an essential part of cultural identity; heirs are defined by their connection to a shared homeland, which is the site and setting of their cultural heritage. In this talk, Dr. Jenks digs into the meaning of querencia by describing what has been learned through collaborative archaeological research on the Cañón de Carnué Land Grant. Most of this research focuses on the plaza of San Miguel de Loredo, settled by grantees in 1763 and abandoned seven years later following a devastating attack. This project offers new insights into the histories connected with this land grant. It also challenges us to consider how we might apply the concept of querencia in our management of heritage sites.

For more info: https://crowcanyon.org/programs/excavating-querencia-land-grant-archaeology-in-new-mexico/

-This is not an NMAC event.

With great new data, comes great new responsibility. Although LiDAR is still a relatively new technology, it has already transformed archaeology and reshaped our understanding of the past. Yet, its regional impact has been surprisingly uneven. While LiDAR has revolutionized archaeological research in many parts of the world, its potential in the U.S. Southwest remains comparatively underrealized. Drawing on preliminary research and examples from the Ancestral Pueblo world, this presentation explores both the opportunities LiDAR presents and the challenges that remain. It also considers what archaeologists can realistically expect from the next generation of remote sensing technologies—and where future research efforts are likely to have the greatest impact.

For more info: https://crowcanyon.org/programs/hidden-on-the-surface-why-lidar-hasnt-changed-southwest-archaeology-yet/

-This is not an NMAC event.