On May 4, 2025* fifteen or more GCAS members led by Marilyn Markel took a short hike up Sapillo Canyon to inspect some pictographs there, then gathered again at the Lake Roberts Vista/Overlook to learn more about the Mimbres-Mogollon habitation site that was professionally excavated there in the 1990s. The weather was ideal, as was the company.

We used the DStretch app to enhance one of the more faded pictographs; below we see the original photo on the left, an image in the center of the same photo with DStretch's CRGB filter applied, and the image on the far right with DStretch's RGBO filter applied. Fun fact: DStretch is also useful in enhancing features in aerial photographs, and even ink on faded historic documents. Science never ceases to amaze.

*May the Fourth Be With You!

/s/ webmaster [All photos courtesy of Eduardo Argüello]

From April 6 through April 8, 2025, the GCAS embarked upon our first overnight field trip in several years. A fine time was had by all 9 participants thanks to field trip coordinators Eduardo Argüello and Torie Grass. Our group enjoyed excursions to the petroglyphs and pueblo site at Lyman Lake State Park as well as a special guided minibus tour from the Casa Malpais Museum in Springerville to the archaeological site of Casa Malpais itself.

Sunday, April 6, through Tuesday, April 8, 2025: the next GCAS field trip will be a long weekend exploring Hopi petroglyphs, two archaeological sites, and a regional museum in the Lyman Lake State Park/Springerville AZ area. Lyman Lake features an easy loop trail of about 1/2 mile to petroglyph panels encircling a small hill overlooking the lake; and a well-interpreted, easy-access archaeological site at Rattlesnake Point, a quick drive or bike ride from the main campground. We can arrange a get-together on Monday 4/7 to view these 2 sites if people prefer.

Sunday, April 6, through Tuesday, April 8, 2025: this GCAS field trip will be a long weekend exploring Hopi petroglyphs, two archaeological sites, and a regional museum in the Lyman Lake State Park/Springerville AZ area. Lyman Lake features an easy loop trail of about 1/2 mile to petroglyph panels encircling a small hill overlooking the lake; and a well-interpreted, easy-access archaeological site at Rattlesnake Point, a quick drive or bike ride from the main campground. We can arrange a get-together on Monday 4/7 to view these 2 sites if people prefer.

On a very warm and sunny Sunday, August 4, 2024, twenty one members of the Grant County Archaeological Society (GCAS), coming from as far away as El Paso, Texas, gathered together to explore the Archaeological Conservancy’s Treasure Hill site located in our very own Arenas Valley. Archaeologists consider this Late Pithouse-to-Mimbres Classic site (roughly 550 CE – 1130 CE), comprising a total of 100 rooms in 6 room blocks plus an additional 24 outlying sites, to have been the largest Mimbres community in the middle Rio de Arenas/Whiskey Creek watershed. Unfortunately Treasure Hill, like so many other Mimbres sites, has suffered heavy looting from the late 19^th Century to the present. A major road and residential development surround it and it has accumulated windblown trash as well as garbage carried in by unauthorized visitors.Consequently...

Sunday, August 4, 2024, 10:00 AM: This month's field trip takes the GCAS to Treasure Hill, located 4 miles east of Silver City in the Arenas Valley and about 1 mile south of Highway 180. Treasure Hill is a heavily looted 15-acre site with a total of about 100 pueblo rooms, ranging from the Late Pithouse to the Classic Mimbres era (about 550 CE - 1130 CE). We will meet at the gate to the site at 10:00 AM sharp but this site is in a sensitive location so please contact trip leader Marianne Smith ([email protected] or phone/text 772-529-2627) for specific directions.

Our friends to the east at the Jornada Research Institute have sent us an update on their archaeological activities and invite interested folks to join in the fun. JRI president Dave Greenwald reports that their work continues at Creekside Village including in the great kiva area. During March into April, volunteers will help complete one 2 m by 5 m area within the great kiva. Dave describes JRI’s further investigations:

Our last field trip of 2023 happened on December 3 when Kyle Meredith guided about 13 GCAS members to the C-Bar Ranch area of the Burro Mountains. The day was cool, dry, and pleasant - well suited to exploring archaeological sites and features on foot. Kyle reported it was a perfect day, with the group about equally divided between established members and folks fairly new to the GCAS. We're certain everyone enjoyed the trip, judging by the photos Kyle and Eduardo Arguello took of people in action.

Kyle provided the two photos shown of pictographs enhanced by dStretch software, and Eduardo shared his group shots. Thanks to both Eduardo and Kyle for their reports!

/s/ webmaster

Last week, on September 29, the 4th and 5th grade classes at San Lorenzo Elementary School returned to the WNMU Museum for a special tour and workshop day. This was their second year in a row to visit the museum and the GCAS was happy to once again cover the cost of their bus transport and to volunteer to help the museum director and teachers make the day a success.

These young students first learned about the Mimbres and puebloan cultures from the museum director, Danni Romero herself. Then they got busy with a range of hands-on activities. They selected their favorite image from a Mimbres bowl on display, then were challenged to recreate it as their own sketch...

...They examined and sorted a table full of potsherds painted in the Reserve style located at sites in the Quemado, New Mexico area....

.....

...At yet another workshop station these students painted assorted images in their own designs -- but the results looked like the kind of fine imagery we see in pictographs and petroglyphs at sites throughout our region.

The GCAS will continue to support the industrious young folk at San Lorenzo Elementary and we look forward to making this a regular, annual event at the WNMU Museum. Thanks go to the museum staff, the teachers, the volunteers, and especially the students for having made this day a special one. We'll be all set next year to welcome the San Lo 4th-5th grade classes of 2024!

/s/ webmaster [All photos courtesy of Marilyn Gendron]

The GCAS always looks for new places to visit or old places to revisit. Day trips and overnight adventures are in the mix. We welcome every one of our members, from brand-new to our Grizzled Old Timers, to give our group your own ideas - where would YOU like to go for our next field trip? Archaeological sites and historic sites like forts, missions, & mines are all cool by us.

We've traveled as far afield as Paquime, Mexico; and as close to home as Gomez Peak. We've visited Three Rivers, and have recorded the rock art at the Dragonfly Petroglyph. Anything goes, near or far! Some of our members are willing to lead any field trips up their way -- but new leaders are welcome too! What do you know? What areas do you like the best? Please share with us - we want to keep exploring!

/s/ webmaster