LIBRARY News:
Project Director for the Museum of New Mexico Chuck Hannaford. Courtesy photo
Back by popular demand for his third visit to Mesa Public Library, Chuck Hannaford, Project Director for the Museum of New Mexico’s Office of Archaeological Studies, returns with this popular and award winning hands-on archaeology outreach program so fitting for this year’s summer reading theme of “Dig In to Reading!”
Hannaford will set up his array of archaeological artifacts from early New Mexico history, all touchable, for visitors to explore in the Mesa Public Library lobby.
Everything from arrow points to atlatls, grinding stones to examples of potsherds, Hannaford is full of expert and first hand information about the discoveries and practice of archaeology for anyone who would like to drop by the lobby between 10 am. and 5 p.m. Thursday, July 18.
He will also give a slide show and talk later in the day at 7 p.m. upstairs in the rotunda.
Experience how Native Americans made and used yucca cordage, stayed warm with turkey-feather blankets, and how the atlatl was used by ancient hunters.
This is also an opportunity to bring in your curious artifacts from the past and have an archaeologist help you with their identification and use.
“I have been an archaeologist at OAS for over 34 years,” writes Hannaford on the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies website: “I have had the privilege to work on numerous projects in almost every corner of New Mexico. I am particularly interested in the Pueblo and Navajo cultures. I have watched the number of recorded sites in New Mexico grow from 30,000 to over 150,000 during the course of my career. I am continually intrigued by the growing knowledge gleaned from New Mexico’s cultural heritage, ranging from the original Clovis site to Trinity site, where the first atomic bomb was detonated.”
“I am concerned about the continued survival of this fragile heritage and preserving the still-undiscovered sites and the unwritten stories they contain. That’s why I am involved with education outreach.”
