It's the time of year to visit the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site for their annual Hummingbird Festival, this coming weekend on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30. It starts tomorrow, people, so get ready now! Gas up the car, load the family, and drive eastbound from Silver City out Highway 152 to the Mimbres Valley. Turn left (north) onto Highway 35 and continue past mile marker 3; a few yards past the defunct Mimbres Valley Cafe turn right where you see the brown sign pointing you to the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site. Join the action from 8AM to 3PM both days for all kinds of big fun as we all learn about archaeology, ornithology, and much, much more. The GCAS will have an educational booth on site, and our GCAS library will offer a used book sale with titles to suit all tastes. Check out the HummerFest flyer over here on the left. For details, click to enlarge!

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Our July 19, 2023, general meeting and fundraiser for the WNMU Museum featured US Forest Service archaeologist Chris Adams who presented Mimbres Pottery - Feather Imagery." An in-person audience of 48 enjoyed Chris's presentation in air-conditioned splendor, surrounded by the Museum's exhibits of Mimbres artifacts.  Over 36 others had signed up online via Zoom. We were thrilled with the crowd's enthusiasm for Chris's talk and their generous support of the Museum during this fundraiser. The Museum wrote:

During 2024, the Jornada Research Institute is offering three separate archaeologically-flavored international tours. In February, it's an 11-day tour of Mayan sites of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. In late July, begin a tour of ancient sites in Scotland. In October, enjoy an 11-day tour of Greece and Ephesus, Turkey. Sign up early for one tour (or all three!) while space is still available.

OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO GCAS MEMBERS, JRI's President, Dave Greenwald, reports that JRI has developed a policy that allows them to donate to other nonprofit organizations whose member participates in one or more of their Overseas Journeys Programs. So, for example, JRI will donate $125.00 to the Grant County Archaeological Society for each tour participant who specifies that the GCAS should receive JRI's donation. Join a JRI tour, and you can support two nonprofits at once!

Dave further describes the tours:

The Grant County Archaeological Society’s regular monthly meeting on July 19, 2023, becomes a special fundraising event for the Western New Mexico University Museum at Fleming Hall, open to GCAS members &the general public in a hybrid in-person and Zoom event! Doors open at 5PM Mountain Daylight (Silver City) Time with a recommended $5.00 minimum donation to the WNMU Museum from in-person attendees and Zoom participants alike.

In-person attendees contribute at the door while Zoom attendees support the Museum via the GCAS's online PayPal payment portal. All donations go to the WNMU Museum.

Beginning at 5PM in-person attendees can view the Museum’s exhibits of Mimbres pottery & other artifacts. Light refreshments provided. Museum’s gift shop is open. At 6:00 PM Mountain Daylight (Silver City) Time, in-person and via Zoom, Featured Speaker USFS District Archaeologist Chris Adams introduces Mimbres Pottery - Feather Imagery. Talk will follow with in-person/online Q&A.

Museum space is limited so reserve an in-person seat or request our Zoom link by contacting the GCAS at [email protected] or by telephoning Marianne Smith at 772-529-2627. Join us in this special fundraising event for the WNMU Museum, and consider becoming a member of the GCAS yourself. The GCAS and the WNMU Museum are grateful for your support.