Providence Cone is located east of Deming, jutting upward from the surrounding flatlands. Locals know it as Rattlesnake Peak and there is a good reason for that name. As long as one stays alert Providence Cone makes for a good wintertime field trip as twenty-eight hardy GCAS members demonstrated on February 2, 2020.

Features of interest in the easier, more level portions of the area include a few difficult-to-find petroglyphs and grinding holes, and an area of rubbing rocks where megafauna like mastodon and bison groomed themselves some 10,000 years ago.

This coming Thursday, plan to attend the Eighth Natural History of the Gila Symposium, at the Global Resource Center of WNMU in Silver City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on February 27 and 28, 2020, with field trips offered on Saturday, February 29. Thanks to the support of the Gila National Forest Service ADMISSION IS FREE. Go to the Symposium's website for further details and more news.

The Symposium offers researchers, land managers, conservationists, educators, and the general public a place to meet and share information and ideas gathered from the Gila Region including watersheds and neighboring areas extending into southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona and Mexico. The informative two-day program on Thursday and Friday features speakers addressing topics from archaeology to zoology that are relevant to our special region. The Saturday field trips reinforce the previous days' educational discussions.

The Tumacácori National Historical Park in Tumacácori AZ is located about 47 miles south of Tucson on I-19. The first and third Saturdays of each month from now through March 21, 2020 (that is, for the two remaining dates of March 7, 2020, and March 21, 2020), from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the Tumacácori National Historical Park provides “Special Guided Tours to Calabazas and Guevavi Missions” starting at Tumacácori National Historical Park, 1891 E. Frontage Rd., Tumacácori, Arizona for $25/person. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. To make reservations go to https://www.recreation.gov/ or https://www.nps.gov/tuma/index.htm or telephone the Tumacácori visitor center at 520-377-5060.

The fragile historic mission ruin sites of Guevavi and Calabazas are protected within the national park but normally closed to the public. Each guided tour begins at Tumacácori National Historical Park Visitor Center, then participants ride in a 15-passenger van to Guevavi and Calabazas. At each location participants walk on unshaded, moderately improved trails to reach the mission ruins, including one short section of steep, uphill trail at Calabazas. The tours are not wheelchair accessible and require walking on uneven terrain. Participants need to bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. After the tour returns to Tumacácori, participants are invited to visit the Tumacácori Mission church and grounds, visitor center, and museum on their own or go on the next guided tour of Tumacácori (starting at 2 p.m.) at no additional charge.

Time's a-wastin' to take a trip to Southeastern Arizona while the weather is still cool(ish). We'll see you there!

/s/ webmaster [Photo of Guevavi ruins via Tumacacori NHP]

Please set aside time to attend the Eighth Natural History of the Gila Symposium, to be held in the Global Resource Center of WNMU in Silver City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on February 27 and 28, 2020, with field trips offered on Saturday, February 29. Thanks to the support of the Gila National Forest Service ADMISSION IS FREE. Go to the Symposium's website for further details and more news as it develops.

The Symposium provides a venue for researchers, land managers, conservationists, educators, and the general public to meet and share information and ideas gathered from the Gila Region including watersheds and neighboring areas extending into southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona and Mexico. The two-day program features speakers addressing topics from archaeology to zoology that are relevant to our special region.

The Tumacácori National Historical Park in Tumacácori AZ is located about 47 miles south of Tucson on I-19. The first and third Saturdays of each month from now through March 21, 2020 (that is, for the three remaining dates of February 15, 2020; March 7, 2020; and March 21, 2020, ONLY), from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the Tumacácori National Historical Park provides “Special Guided Tours to Calabazas and Guevavi Missions” starting at Tumacácori National Historical Park, 1891 E. Frontage Rd., Tumacácori, Arizona for $25/person. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. To make reservations go to https://www.recreation.gov/ or https://www.nps.gov/tuma/index.htm or telephone the Tumacácori visitor center at 520-377-5060.

The fragile historic mission ruin sites of Guevavi and Calabazas are protected within the national park but normally closed to the public. Each guided tour begins at Tumacácori National Historical Park Visitor Center, then participants ride in a 15-passenger van to Guevavi and Calabazas. At each location participants walk on unshaded, moderately improved trails to reach the mission ruins, including one short section of steep, uphill trail at Calabazas. The tours are not wheelchair accessible and require walking on uneven terrain. Participants need to bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. After the tour returns to Tumacácori, participants are invited to visit the Tumacácori Mission church and grounds, visitor center, and museum on their own or go on the next guided tour of Tumacácori (starting at 2 p.m.) at no additional charge.

Time to take a trip to Southeastern Arizona? We'll see you out there!

/s/ webmaster [Photo of Guevavi ruins via Tumacacori NHP]

The Sierra County Historical Society, the Geronimo Springs Museum, and the TorC Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring their 2020 Annual Dinner and Fundraiser at 5:30 PM on Saturday, March 7, 2020. Everyone is invited.

Held at the TorC Civic Center at 400 West Fourth Street, the cost for the presentation alone is $15 per person, or $25 per person (or $45 per couple) for the presentation and a brisket dinner. Children 12 and under get dinner for $15 per child. Come out to support this worthy cause, enjoy a nice meal, and hear a special presentation.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Matthew F. Schmader, adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico, who will present "Vazquez de Coronado and the Southern Tiwas, 1540-1542." This talk will highlight the battle at Piedras Marcadas Pueblo (Southern Tiwa Pueblo) between Vazquez de Coronado and the Native Pueblo inhabitants in 1540. This pueblo was the largest in the Albuquerque area with over 1000 rooms and over 1500 Coronado period artifacts have been recovered. Learn about this important historic encounter that happened in Nuevo Mexico...and view some of the Coronado artifacts.

For more information contact the Geronimo Springs Museum at (575) 894-6600. We'll see you there!

/s/ webmaster

Karl W. Laumbach - archaeologist, Director of the Cañada Alamosa Project, and Associate Director of Human Systems Research, Inc. - winds up his monthly series of lectures entitled, "A Synthesis of Twenty Years of Archaeological Discoveries on the Cañada Alamosa," on February 13, 2020, with a discussion of "Cañada Alamosa and the Apaches."

This, the final lecture in the series, is FREE and starts at 7:00 pm in the Social Center Auditorium at the University Terrace Good Samaritan Village, 3011 Buena Vida Circle, Las Cruces. For contact info and more details please check out HSR's PDF: Download Canada Alamosas Lectures in Cruces-1 . Let's all attend and show Karl how much we appreciate his work!

/s/ webmaster

The Tumacácori National Historical Park in Tumacácori AZ is located about 47 miles south of Tucson on I-19. The first and third Saturdays of each month from now through March 21, 2020 (that is, for the four remaining dates of February 1, 2020; February 15, 2020; March 7, 2020; and March 21, 2020, ONLY), from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the Tumacácori National Historical Park provides “Special Guided Tours to Calabazas and Guevavi Missions” starting at Tumacácori National Historical Park, 1891 E. Frontage Rd., Tumacácori, Arizona for $25/person. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. To make reservations go to https://www.recreation.gov/ or https://www.nps.gov/tuma/index.htm or telephone the Tumacácori visitor center at 520-377-5060.

The fragile historic mission ruin sites of Guevavi and Calabazas are protected within the national park but normally closed to the public. Each guided tour begins at Tumacácori National Historical Park Visitor Center, then participants ride in a 15-passenger van to Guevavi and Calabazas. At each location participants walk on unshaded, moderately improved trails to reach the mission ruins, including one short section of steep, uphill trail at Calabazas. The tours are not wheelchair accessible and require walking on uneven terrain. Participants need to bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. After the tour returns to Tumacácori, participants are invited to visit the Tumacácori Mission church and grounds, visitor center, and museum on their own or go on the next guided tour of Tumacácori (starting at 2 p.m.) at no additional charge.

Time to take a trip to Southeastern Arizona? We'll see you out there!

/s/ webmaster [Photo of Guevavi ruins via Tumacacori NHP]

A significant aspect of the GCAS's mission is to preserve and protect archaeological resources through education. School is in session and three groups of fourth-grade students from Deming, along with their teachers, have scheduled a day of multi-station outdoor museum classrooms at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site for Friday, March 6, 2020.

The GCAS traditionally provides volunteer guides for these field trips, coordinated by our very own Marilyn Markel. This visit is a special one because this is the first time a large number of students and teachers will travel from Deming to our area. So please, GCAS members: take time to assist Marilyn in welcoming these young students to our backyard and showing them some of their region's rich heritage.

No experience is necessary for any of these classroom stations; Marilyn will quickly get you up to speed. For hours and other details please contact Marilyn ASAP by telephone at 575-536-9337, or via email. Thank you, one and all!

/s/ webmaster

The Tumacácori National Historical Park in Tumacácori AZ is located about 47 miles south of Tucson on I-19. The first and third Saturdays of each month from now through March 21, 2020 (that is, for the four remaining dates of February 1, 2020; February 15, 2020; March 7, 2020; and March 21, 2020, ONLY), from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the Tumacácori National Historical Park provides “Special Guided Tours to Calabazas and Guevavi Missions” starting at Tumacácori National Historical Park, 1891 E. Frontage Rd., Tumacácori, Arizona for $25/person. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. To make reservations go to https://www.recreation.gov/ or https://www.nps.gov/tuma/index.htm or telephone the Tumacácori visitor center at 520-377-5060.

The fragile historic mission ruin sites of Guevavi and Calabazas are protected within the national park but normally closed to the public. Each guided tour begins at Tumacácori National Historical Park Visitor Center, then participants ride in a 15-passenger van to Guevavi and Calabazas. At each location participants walk on unshaded, moderately improved trails to reach the mission ruins, including one short section of steep, uphill trail at Calabazas. The tours are not wheelchair accessible and require walking on uneven terrain. Participants need to bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. After the tour returns to Tumacácori, participants are invited to visit the Tumacácori Mission church and grounds, visitor center, and museum on their own or go on the next guided tour of Tumacácori (starting at 2 p.m.) at no additional charge.

Time to take a trip to Southeastern Arizona? We'll see you out there!

/s/ webmaster [Photo of Guevavi ruins via Tumacacori NHP]