ARARA 2024 Conference - details

This page is a work in progress. Return often for updates.

Schedule
Registration
Hotel Room Rates
Field trips
Field Trip Map
Fieldtrip Meeting Location
T-Shirts
Agenda
Agenda and Speaker Abstracts Combined
Vendors
Covid Policy

Schedule
Thursday May 16 morning: Mesa Prieta sponsored field trip; afternoon and evening: In-person registration. Vendor setup. Auction material receipt.
Friday May 17: Field trips. Evening reception: speakers, a celebration of our 50 years, and awards
Saturday May 18: Presentations; Evening reception at Salmon Ruins Museum.
Sunday May 19: Member meeting; Presentations; Banquet.
Monday May 20: Field trips.

Registration
In person: We anticipate registration to open about April 1, 2024. Emails announcing registration will go out to our members and non-members in our database when registration opens. Click here to register for the conference.

Registration is open to members only. Registration is $95 per member with discounts for students, children and Native American attendees. If registering through this website you may pay by credit card (use the online option) or by check (use the invoice me option). Once you have registered you will receive an email confirming your registration. This email will include a password you can use to register for field trips. This allows field trip registration to be on a first-come, first-served basis.

You may cancel your registration and receive a refund up to two weeks in advance of the symposium. In-person registration will be limited to credit card payments and will not allow field trips.

A note for non-members: We recognize that not all of you will want to become ARARA members. However, our conference pricing in the past has been such that it was cheaper to become a member to attend the conference. It made no sense to register as a non-member. Members also receive all of the other benefits of being part of ARARA including our American Indian Rock Art volume. To join click the "Join" link at the top center of this page.

Virtual option: For the first time, ARARA will offer a virtual only registration so that people who choose not to travel to Farmington can watch the Saturday and Sunday daytime presentations and participate in our member meeting. Registration will be $75 per household. Only one person per household needs to register. Anyone else in the house can participate for free. Invite friends over to participate! You will receive a zoom link that will allow you to watch the presentations in real-time.

The quality of the presentations will not be as good as the online conferences during Covid since we are simply capturing the presentations and using the hotel internet to transmit them. We will endeavor to provide the best streaming experience, but we will be at the mercy of the hotel internet system. We will miss the hosting of Kaiser and Keyser and the unique break music selections. But we will still allow participants to ask questions of presenters and of the Board during the member meeting. Click here to register for the virtual conference.
Hotel room rates
The hotel has two types of rooms available. One with a King bed ($129/night, $147 with taxes) and another with two Queen beds (139/night, $159 with taxes). We have a broad set of dates available (Tue May 14 - Wedn May 22). So you can come early and stay after the conference should you choose. Rooms include a microwave oven, and mini-fridge. We are checking whether all ARARA members get free internet or only BonVoy (Marriott) members. There are a limited number of rooms available and reservations must be made by April 25. Click here to register for a room at the ARARA rate. You will be encouraged to register as a BonVoy member. However, it is not required to get the ARARA rate. There is a guest option on the left side of the page.

Field trips
There is no cost for most field trips. There are a few field trips with additional charges that will be noted in their description. You can't register directly from this page but you can see all of the field trip options in one convenient location. The field trip numbers will link to the registration pages. So, if you want to attend the Friday Jesus Canyon field trip, clicking on the F1 link will take you to that field trip registration. Or you can go to the Friday field trip page, or Monday field trip page, and see all of the trips/activities with their availability.

The field trip numbers (located after the field trip name) indicate what days the trips are available. So, for the Jesus Canyon trip there are two field trips, one on Friday (F1) and one on  Monday (M1). Meeting time and location will be provided in your registration email along with contact information for your trip leader. Your trip leader will also determine whether carpooling will take place.

Bring: A hat, appropriate clothing including footwear, plenty of water, lunch, snacks, and maybe a jacket, plus whatever you need to be out in the field for up to a full day and fees (cash) as noted in your trip description.  Binoculars or camera with telephoto lens is often helpful. Make sure that your vehicle is full on gas and that you have used the bathroom before meeting with your trip leader. Don't bring a dog on a field trip. Not everyone is comfortable with them.

When you register for the conference you will receive a confirmation email that will include a "password" in large, bright red font. This password will allow you to register for the fieldtrip of your choice as long as space is available. 

The fieldtrip registration page will show how many spots are still open. You cannot sign up directly as a group, other than you can use the guest option for a spouse or family member who is registered for the conference. So, if you wish to travel with other friends make sure that there is enough space for them to register as well.

Pre-Conference Special Field Trip: Mesa Prieta     Register
Mesa Prieta is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. They would like to offer ARARA members a special chance to view their rock art. Since this trip is a bonus pre-conference trip you can choose it in addition to the regular Friday and Monday trips. Use the same password you receive with your conference registration confirmation email. We've also included a wait list for this event only.
When: Thursday May 16, 2024 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Site Description: Situated on ancestral Tewa lands, the Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project is a nonprofit organization aimed at educating and promoting the heritage stewardship of archaeological features of the northern Rio Grande Valley. The Mesa includes well over 100,000 petroglyphs with archaeological features that date back thousands of years. Visitors will view examples of elaborate rock art that range from Archaic, Classic Pueblo and Post-contact time periods. What makes this place unique are the abundance of what is referred to as shield images, Avanyu and flute player petroglyphs. 
Difficulty: Tours will last approximately two hours will the level of difficulty being moderate with some steep and rugged trail options. Restroom amenities are limited and visitors should prepared with proper hiking shoes, hats, sunscreen and water.
Vehicle Requirement: Any
Driving Time/Distance (Round trip):The meeting location will be emailed to you, but for travel planning the Ohkay Travel Center (NM Highway 68, Ohkay Owingeh, NM 87566 is a close proxy. Travel time to Farmington will be 3 - 3.5 hours.
Max. Number of Participants: 20
Fee: $25

Jesus Canyon  F1/M1
Leaders:    Stan and Gosia Allison
Site Description:  Jesus Canyon is one of the premier rock art places in Dinetah. Highlights include Diné defensive ruins, a star ceiling and the unique “Buck Capture” panel.
Difficulty:  A 2.5 mile hike with a deep arroyo crossing.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1.25 hrs; 33 miles with the last 6 miles unpaved with some deep sand (and mud if it has rained)
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee:  None       

Crow Canyon (Half Day) F2/M2
Leaders:    Joy Eiland and Leslie Scarburough
Site Description: This trip has a profound number of panels with religious significance. This trip will visit the lower canyon including the Main Panels and the “Big Warrior”, an equinox site, and a rain shine.
Difficulty:  Several short walks over mostly flat ground with a total distance about a half mile.
Vehicle: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1 hour including paved and dirt roads
Max. Number of participants: 12
Fee: None


Crow Canyon and service project (Full Day)  F3/M3
Leader:  Johnathan Kelly
Site Description: Highlights include the “44Panel,” the “Message Panel,” beautiful corn stalks, an equinox site, a rain shine and a shielded warrior with bow, arrows and quiver. At the end of the Friday trip we will assist the BLM by removing some trash (old clothing) to a location where it can be picked up. ARARA will supply trash bags which will need to be carried a short distance so that BLM can pick them up.
Difficulty: This is about a two-mile hike with several deep arroyo crossings and a couple of short rough spots.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1 hour including paved and dirt roads
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None

Encierro Canyon  F4/M4
Leaders: Glen and Margaret Stone    
Site Description: This canyon has one of the longest periods of occupation. It is known for large painted Dine shields. Other highlights are many but include a fertility shrine, and hands and “Moki Steps.”
Difficulty: Half mile of hiking over several stops with short, but challenging, talus slopes. Bring good binoculars if you are concerned about the talus slopes.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance, a lot of two track roads.
Driving Time/Distance (One Way:) 1.5 hours with frequent stops
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None        

Pueblito Canyon  F5
Leader: Kim Stradling
Site Description: A nice variety of painted and pecked images. Highlights include an apotropaic (evil ward) pictograph of a Diné rainbow, Night Chant way panel, Navajo defenisve sites, and large rectangular mask.
Difficulty: Total hiking distance of about 3/4 of a mile with a couple of deep arroyo crossings and several optional challenging talus slope climbs.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way):  1.25 hours
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None

Lower Gobernador Canyon  F6/M6
Leaders: Ken Russel
Site Description: This long canyon empties into the San Juan River and due to that important location includes a lot of sites. Highlights include the Pueblo “Pregnant Couple,” the “Sun Shield Bearer” which David Casey considers as one of the best rock art sites in the area, and a dynamic Hopi observatory with a star ceiling.
Difficulty: A few stops with walks over some uneven ground totaling about 3/4 of a mile and a couple of short climbs. 
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 30-40 minutes
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None           

Humming Bird and Montoya Canyons (Half day)  F7/M7
Leaders: Erik Simpson (BLM archeologist)
Site Description: Humming Bird Canyon is part of the Lower Gobernador Canyon complex. Highlights include an incised Monster Slayer with mask, humming bird, hunchbacks, a panel of a hunting corral, and numerous pictographs of important Diné Holy People (Yei).
Difficulty: A hike of over a mile over flat ground with a couple of deep arroyo crossings.  
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 45 minutes
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None

Pine Springs (Smith Family Ranch) Upper Gobernador Canyon  F8
Leader: Tara and Porter Smith
Site Description:  Private property overlooking Navajo Lake. Family members will lead the trip. Highlights include negative handprints, bed rock metates, solstice markers, a lot of incised figures, and 29 Sandhill Cranes. On the way to the canyon we will stop to see one of the largest Navajo ruins in the area.
Difficulty: Short walks over flat ground with two short easy trails on talus slopes.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1.5 hours
Max. Number of Participants:  12
Fee: None

Blanco Canyon (Half Day)  F9/M9
Leader: Tim Mietty (archeologist)
Site Description: This canyon has a concentration of Diné imagery. Highlights include constellations, Holy People (Yei), and a likely depiction of an Emergence motif into the current world.
Difficulty: Mostly driving with walking to several Diné sites. Total hiking less than a half mile.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Distance One Way: 40 minutes with stops along the way
Max. Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None

Tommy Bolack’s B-Square Ranch (Long half day) F10/M10
Leader: Linda Wheelbarger (archeologist)
Site Description: Private land. Highlights include the Tommy Site (a large Pueblo II ruin) where the trip leader has been working with the San Juan college field school for over 20 years, early Basketmaker images, later Pueblo rock art, Diné rock art sites, and a wall with a huge number of spirals. 
Difficulty: Short walks over mostly flat ground with some optional talus slopes. 
Vehicle Requirement: Any
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 15 minutes
Max. Number of Participants: 20
Fee:  None         

Adalfo and Gomez Canyons   F11/M11
Leaders: David Casey (Fri); Javin Calabaza (Mon);
Site Description: Wonderful Hopi deities, a star panel which includes images of the Pleiades, a Diné Kokopelli image, and a Hopi guardian of the underworld figure. Gomez Canyon is a small canyon but has a Diné hunting shrine and a large panel with origin mythology a mountain lion, and a corn stalk with a representation of pollen.
Difficulty: A total of about a half mile of walking including an arroyo crossing with a couple of optional talus slope climbs including some boulder hopping. If there is enough time and interest we can visit some figures of Sandhill Cranes in the area.  
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1.5 hours
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None

Chaco Canyon Ruins   F12/M12
Leader:  Tori Myers (Salmon Ruins educational specialist/archaeologist)
Site Description: Chaco was the cultural center of this part of the Puebloan world for hundreds of years. It's ruins are exquisite and mystifying. This trip will not be going to rock art locations but to major sites within Chaco Culture National Historic Park including Pueblo Bonito and other sites in the main canyon. Roads to Chaco have not been well maintained and we have decided not to do a trip where members would use their own vehicle to get to the park. This trip will use the leader's vehicle. For questions regarding the trip contact Tori directly at 505-632-2013.
Difficulty: Short walks over well maintained trails
Vehicle Requirement: Trip leader will provide the vehicle
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1.5 hrs, 72 miles
Max. Number of Participants: 6
Fee: $600. The vehicle can hold six people. Per person pricing is variable depending on the number of participants. With a full group the price per person will be $100. Price includes lunch and park entrance fees. You may want to organize your own full group and register together to optimize the price. You will be responsible to pay the trip leader. Payment can be made by credit card at the museum.

Upper Largo Canyon  F13
Leader: David Casey
Site Description: Highlights include a Diné equinox site, Diné defensive ruins and a likely presentation of the four sacred mountains “inner forms.”
Difficulty: One walk of about a half mile with several other short stops.
Vehicle Requirement: High Clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1.5 hours
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: None

Aztec Ruins Inscription Tour  (Half Day) 
Leader: Fred Blackburn
Site Description: Of the 1800 inscriptions Fred and his team recorded at the west complex 300 could be classified as “rock art” with painted, incised, and pecked images. Highlights include a pictograph of a crooked staff, an incised staff with feathers and a miniature panel which appears to be similar to the “Procession Panel” in southeast Utah.
Difficulty: Easy short walks sometimes into close spaces to get good photographs. 
Vehicle Requirement: Any
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 25 minutes/14 miles
Max. Number of Participants: 7
Fee: None

Ute Mountain Park, Colorado F15/M15
Leader: Veronica Cuthair and park employees (meeting the leader at the Ute Mountain Park)
Site Description: A nice comprehensive tour with ruins, rock art, and physical artifacts left in place. It feels like you are stepping back into time. On the way home the group will stop in Waterflow to photograph sites from the Big Rock Trading Post.
Difficulty: Short walks from the road
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1 hour/60 miles on highway and then 17 miles on non-paved roads.
Max. Number of Participants: 30
Fee: $30/person

Chimney Rock, Colorado F16/M16  
Leader: Patrick and Holly Hasenbuhler (Meet with trip leaders Sportsman Bar at the junction of Highways 173 & 511)
Site Description: A two hour tour (no don't sing that song) a ½ mile of groomed trail and 1/4 mile unmaintained uphill trail to explain the "Mystery of Chimney Rock". Other highlights to be seen on the way include a Diné defensive ruin, a fertility shrine, and an interesting Diné/Hopi panel.
Difficulty: Chimney Rock is a 1/2 mile hike on well maintained trails with short stops at other sites.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): It is about a 1.75 hour, 83 mile, drive from the hotel.  
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: $16/person

Simon Canyon and Pump Canyon (Half Day) F17/M17 
Leader: Cody Walton (BLM archeologist) and Clay Johnston
Site Description: A half dozen sites. The rock art has a lot of Basketmaker figures some Ute images, Diné sites and dinosaur tracks.
Difficulty: Short walks from the road. Two sites will require some climbing (less than a hundred feet of elevation gain) but could be viewed from the road with binoculars and telephoto lenses.
Vehicle Requirement: High clearance
Driving Time/Distance (One Way): It is about a 45 min, 45 mile drive (10 miles off highway) from the hotel.  
Max. Number of Participants: 12
Fee: No fee

Aztec and Salmon Ruins Self Guided Tour (no need to register)
Leader: None, self guided
Site Description: Both Aztec and Salmon (pronounced sal-mon) ruins are large Chaco outliers on the northern edge of Chaco influence built after the fall of Chaco. Many positive changes have been made at Aztec that are well worth seeing. While visiting Aztec people may want to take the opportunity to visit the shop of renounce Hopi katsina carver Ambrose Teasyatwho on 119 South Main Street. An appointment can be made by calling 505-701-9259.
The Salmon Ruins Museum has one of the few rock art panels recovered from a looter.  It is from the beautiful, but difficult to visit, BiYaazh complex. A variety of photographs of other difficult to access panels will also be on display. Highlights include the “unity” panel, several solstice and equinox sites, as well as a representation of the Diné “emergence.” 
Difficulty: Easy access over well designed and maintained trails where you can go at your own pace.
Vehicle Requirement: Any
Driving Time/Distance (Round trip): Driving time is about 1 hour/36 miles
Max. Number of Participants: Any
Fee: Aztec has no fee. The museum at Salmon Ruins has a $4 adult/$3 senior fee.

Field Trip Map

Field Trip Meeting Locations
Field trip parking is tight this year and many of the trips are using the same access roads (see the map above). So, we are doing two unusual things this year to mitigate these issues. First, field trips are meeting in two separate locations. Second, we are staggering start times. Start times will vary between 8:00 a.m., 8:30, and 9:00. You will receive an email which will notify you of where to meet and the time. Once you arrive look for the sign for your trip. For example, look for sign "3" if you are on trip M3.

                      Marriott Courtyard Parking                                                              Salmon Ruins Parking
Will require a left turn on the street and another into the parking         Ten miles SE of the hotel on Highway 64. Don't park in the front
                  lot. Don't leave unused vehicles here.                               Proceed to the back. Unused vehicles can be left here.           
                                                                                                                                       Google Maps link

T-Shirt
Our Conference T-Shirt is a conference tradition. This year our logo was designed by Chris Gralapp, using local rock art elements suggested by Polly Schaafsma and celebrating of the 50th anniversary. Sizes are available from Small to XXLarge. T-Shirts will be distributed at the registration desk at the conference. T-Shirts are only available to conference attendees and are only available through the conference registration process. We will not mail T-Shirts if you don't attend the conference. The price is $16.Vendors
Vendors are an import part of every conference. Vendor registration is now open. For details on being a vendor at special events in New Mexico see this link.

Vendors will be in the same room as the presentations. The room can be locked but it will need to be opened at extended times to allow for other activities.

Vendors pay a small fee, a percentage of revenue, and agree to provide an item for the auction. To register as a vendor click here.
Covid Policy
Covid is still circulating but is much less prevalent. Our later date for the conference this year will also put is in a lower season for Covid transmittal. However, many of our members are also at risk for Covid. So, we encourage all attendees to test themselves prior to leaving for the conference. If you test positive we will refund your registration.