Shell Recording Workshop for Students and Young Professionals

Calling all students and young professionals! Join AAHS on Saturday, March 29th, for a shell recording workshop with Chris Lange from Desert Archaeology. The workshop will take place from 10AM–4PM at Desert Archaeology in Tucson, AZ.

Chris Lange has worked for Desert Archaeology for 18+ years. She has also worked for several other companies in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. Field projects have taken her to southern Nevada, as well as most of Arizona and New Mexico. Her archaeology career began as a field archaeologist but then expanded in 1991 with the addition of an interest in shell artifacts as a specialty area. Her excellent mentors have included Ann Valdo Howard and Arthur Vokes. She has had the opportunity to work on some amazing shell collections – in the Phoenix area, they include the site of S’edav Va’aki (formerly Pueblo Grand Museum), Snaketown, Las Colinas, La Villa, and La Ciudad, as well as a few others. In the Tucson Basin, she has recorded shell ornaments from Julian Wash, Honey Bee Village, Rooney Ranch, Los Pozos, Las Capas, the Clearwater Site, Valencia Site, and many others. Shell collections from these sites can range from the San Pedro phase of the Early Agricultural Period (1200–1800 BC) through the Classic Period of the Hohokam era (1450 AD). She has also been fortunate to record shell from historic sites in downtown Tucson.

This immersive workshop will give participants general information as to why the recording of shell ornaments is important as well as “how to” with hands-on opportunities.

Lunch will be provided for all attendees, however we recommend bringing a water bottle, notebook, writing utensil, and additional snacks that you may desire throughout the day.

Desert Archaeology is located at 3975 N. Tucson Blvd. The office is located on Tucson Blvd about a ½ mile north of Prince Road, and is the last property on the west side of the road across the street from the Rio Vista Natural Resource Park. (If the mapping app on your phone tells you anything different it is lying to you. Really.). We will be meeting in Room 2.

Workshop registration is currently limited to students and young professionals looking to develop professional skills for a career in archaeology. Registration is currently limited to 15 people. However, if you are no longer able to attend, we ask that you reach out to Emily Jonsson, VP for Membership, at AAHSmemberVP@gmail.com, so that we can offer your spot to someone on the waiting list. 

A good faith effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations requested by March 22, 2025. These requests can be submitted with registration or directly to AAHSmemberVP@gmail.com.