The School for Advanced Research offers innovative and thought-provoking classes on a range of topics for SAR members and the general public. Courses often have opportunities to engage with rarely seen works in the IARC collection or take advantage of the unique resources the campus provides.
This course is being offered in conjunction with an SAR member field trip: Archaic Rock Art on Rowe Mesa, Thursday September 26, 2019. Participation in the field trip is not required in order to take the course, but registered field trip attendees can receive an additional 15% discount on the course fee. For more information about the member field trip contact Amy Schiffer, schiffer@sarsf.org.
Rock Art of the Rio Grande Basin in Northern New Mexico
Course Description:
Explore the history and evolution of rock art across the Rio Grande Basin with archaeologist, Richard Ford. This four-part course introduces participants to a wide range of rock art including Paleo-Indian, Early/Middle/Late Archaic, historic Pueblo, and the migratory Plains style. Learn how to identify rock art, record the works, and where to find nearby examples. This course is presented in four parts:
October 1: Cupules (their manufacture and meaning) with class demonstration
– Paleo-Indian rock art: what it means and where you find it
– Conventions and protocol for recording rock art
October 8: Archaic Rock Art
– The importance of shamanism and sacred shrines in the Archaic, the meaning of abstract art, and the Rowe Mesa rock art tour
– Early Archaic
– Middle Archaic
– Late Archaic and Transitional rock art
October 15: Ancestral Pueblo imagery: styles, meaning, and history
October 22: Historic Hispanic, Genízaro, and Catholic religious imagery
– Migratory Plains Indian rock art (Ute, Jicarilla Apache, and Comanche glyphs)
– Anglo-American images
– Where to find rock art in the greater Santa Fe area
Course Leader:
Richard I. Ford
Richard Ford, Arthur F. Thurnau Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan, completed his BA in anthropology at Oberlin College and then his PhD in anthropology at the University of Michigan, where he rose to the rank of full professor of anthropology and botany. While at Michigan, he had administrative appointments as curator of ethnology and director of the Ethnobotanical Laboratory in the Museum of Anthropology, director of the Museum of Anthropology, chairman of the Department of Anthropology, and associate dean of research and computing in the Literary College.
Professor Ford’s ethnobotanical research took him to Poland, Tunisia, Kenya, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas, China, and several Midwestern and Southwestern states. Based on this travel, he published 135 articles and chapters and nine research monographs.
He received numerous awards from professional organizations including the Amal Amique Award in India, Distinguished Ethnobiologist from the Society of Ethnobiology, the Fryxell Award from the Society of American Archaeology, the Franz Boas Award from the American Anthropological Association, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as numerous local honors.
Now residing in Santa Fe, Ford is an active lecturer and archaeology tour guide. He also serves as an expert witness for several pueblos in their land and water cases.
Dates, Times, and Places:
Tuesday, October 1, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Tuesday, October 8, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Tuesday, October 15, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Tuesday, October 22, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Cost: $175 for members; $225 for non-members; $150 for members registered for the September 26, 2019, member field trip.
This course is being offered in conjunction with an SAR member field trip: Archaic Rock Art on Rowe Mesa, Thursday September 26, 2019. Participation in the field trip is not required in order to take the course, but registered field trip attendees can receive an additional 15% discount on the course fee. For more information about the member field trip contact Amy Schiffer, schiffer@sarsf.org.
If you would like to become an SAR member and receive a discount to attend this class and other benefits, click here.
For more information about the class, contact Meredith Davidson davidson@sarsf.org or 505-954-7223.
Photo:Shield figure with four pointed star, Mesa Prieta. Photo by Curt Schaafsma
Rashmi Sadana, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University and Weatherhead fellow at SAR
Rashmi Sadana, Weatherhead fellow, SAR
What happens when a hyper-modern, state-of-the-art metro rail system gets built on top of and underneath an ancient and modern Indian megacity? Delhi’s new metro system is not just a new way to get around but is also a new set of public places spread over two hundred miles of urban space. With eight lines and 250 stations, the metro has re-framed everyday life for millions and re-painted the urban landscape. Rashmi Sadana has spent the last ten years studying the social impact of the Delhi Metro and the contradictions of what it means to be a world-class city amid social progress and deep inequality. Using an ethnographic approach, Sadana analyzes how the Metro is a vehicle for class, caste, and gendered mobility from the perspective of planners, architects, politicians, officials, and commuters. This presentation reveals the politics of urban development as Delhi-ites step onto the trains and into a new social reality.
This event is free and open to the public. The presentation will take place in the Eric S. Dobkin Boardroom on the SAR campus. Advanced registration is encouraged.
SAR’s third annual Creative Thought Forum series invites members and the public to explore our understanding of where humanity is going in a new age of technological and cultural shifts under the thematic umbrella of “The Future of Work,” through lectures and conversation-style salons.
The series begins on October 16, 2019, with Thomas Malone, the Patrick J. McGovern Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the founding director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence. In 2004 Malone summarized two decades of research in his critically acclaimed book The Future of Work. His newest book, Superminds, appeared in May 2018 and presents new insights into the power of collective intelligence and collaborative working in a world of quickly changing new technologies.
This series-kickoff lecture is presented at the Santa Fe Convention Center and in partnership with Innovate+Educate as part of the annual CLOSE IT Summit, a global gathering of innovators in education and technology.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CLOSE IT HERE
If you would like to become an SAR member and receive free admission to this lecture and other benefits, click here.
SAR SALON // Thursday, October 17, 2019 // Salons are offered on the morning following each Creative Thought Forum lecture. The salon is an opportunity for a conversation-style gathering with the speaker for a deeper exploration of the lecture topics. Participation in the salons is limited to 25 people and is a free member benefit; advanced registration is required with priority given to Chaco level members and above. For more information or to register for the salon call 505-954-7231.
Learn more about SAR’s Creative Thought Forum here.
This lecture is sponsored by Descartes Labs, Dan Merians UBS Financial Services, First National 1870, Santa Fe Dining, and KUNM 89.9 FM.
Presented in partnership with
The Thursday following the lecture, SAR hosts an informal salon discussion with Thomas Malone, the Patrick J. McGovern Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the founding director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence. The salon is an opportunity for a conversation-style gathering with the speaker and provides a deeper exploration of the lecture topics. Participants will be sent a brief selection of readings prior to the event so that they can familiarize themselves with the speaker’s work.
Participation in the salons is limited to 25 people and is a free member benefit; advanced registration is required with priority given to Chaco-level members and above. For more information or to RSVP for the salon call 505-954-7231 or email archuleta@sarsf.org.
If you would like to become an SAR member and receive free admission to lectures and other benefits, click here.
Learn more about SAR’s Creative Thought Forum here.
Reservations for campus tours must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Explore the fascinating history, stunning architecture, and beautiful outdoor gardens of the School for Advanced Research. Originally the 1920s home of Amelia Elizabeth White and Martha Root White, the property was bequeathed to SAR in 1972. The 8-acre estate, formerly known as “El Delirio” (The Madness), is the campus for SAR, a research center for anthropology, archaeology, and other social sciences as well as the home to the Indian Arts Research Center.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes so you can fully appreciate the beauty of the campus and its graveled and flagstone walkways.
Tours may be subject to cancellation or rescheduling in case of inclement weather.
Wednesdays at 10 AM from June through September
Fridays at 10 AM year round
Cost $15, free to SAR members
Reservations required availability subject to change
Call (505) 954-7213
Private tours may be arranged for groups of eight people or more at a cost of $20 per person. Please contact the Reception Center at least two weeks in advance of your preferred tour date.
Download the SAR Walking History Tour Map (PDF, 2 MB).
The School for Advanced Research offers innovative and thought-provoking classes on a range of topics for SAR members and the general public. Courses often have opportunities to engage with rarely seen works in the IARC collection or take advantage of the unique resources the campus provides.
This course is being offered in conjunction with an SAR member field trip: Archaic Rock Art on Rowe Mesa, Thursday September 26, 2019. Participation in the field trip is not required in order to take the course, but registered field trip attendees can receive an additional 15% discount on the course fee. For more information about the member field trip contact Amy Schiffer, schiffer@sarsf.org.
Rock Art of the Rio Grande Basin in Northern New Mexico
Course Description:
Explore the history and evolution of rock art across the Rio Grande Basin with archaeologist, Richard Ford. This four-part course introduces participants to a wide range of rock art including Paleo-Indian, Early/Middle/Late Archaic, historic Pueblo, and the migratory Plains style. Learn how to identify rock art, record the works, and where to find nearby examples. This course is presented in four parts:
October 1: Cupules (their manufacture and meaning) with class demonstration
– Paleo-Indian rock art: what it means and where you find it
– Conventions and protocol for recording rock art
October 8: Archaic Rock Art
– The importance of shamanism and sacred shrines in the Archaic, the meaning of abstract art, and the Rowe Mesa rock art tour
– Early Archaic
– Middle Archaic
– Late Archaic and Transitional rock art
October 15: Ancestral Pueblo imagery: styles, meaning, and history
October 22: Historic Hispanic, Genízaro, and Catholic religious imagery
– Migratory Plains Indian rock art (Ute, Jicarilla Apache, and Comanche glyphs)
– Anglo-American images
– Where to find rock art in the greater Santa Fe area
Course Leader:
Richard I. Ford
Richard Ford, Arthur F. Thurnau Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan, completed his BA in anthropology at Oberlin College and then his PhD in anthropology at the University of Michigan, where he rose to the rank of full professor of anthropology and botany. While at Michigan, he had administrative appointments as curator of ethnology and director of the Ethnobotanical Laboratory in the Museum of Anthropology, director of the Museum of Anthropology, chairman of the Department of Anthropology, and associate dean of research and computing in the Literary College.
Professor Ford’s ethnobotanical research took him to Poland, Tunisia, Kenya, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas, China, and several Midwestern and Southwestern states. Based on this travel, he published 135 articles and chapters and nine research monographs.
He received numerous awards from professional organizations including the Amal Amique Award in India, Distinguished Ethnobiologist from the Society of Ethnobiology, the Fryxell Award from the Society of American Archaeology, the Franz Boas Award from the American Anthropological Association, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as numerous local honors.
Now residing in Santa Fe, Ford is an active lecturer and archaeology tour guide. He also serves as an expert witness for several pueblos in their land and water cases.
Dates, Times, and Places:
Tuesday, October 1, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Tuesday, October 8, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Tuesday, October 15, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Tuesday, October 22, 10 a.m. – Noon, Dobkin Boardroom
Cost: $175 for members; $225 for non-members; $150 for members registered for the September 26, 2019, member field trip.
This course is being offered in conjunction with an SAR member field trip: Archaic Rock Art on Rowe Mesa, Thursday September 26, 2019. Participation in the field trip is not required in order to take the course, but registered field trip attendees can receive an additional 15% discount on the course fee. For more information about the member field trip contact Amy Schiffer, schiffer@sarsf.org.
If you would like to become an SAR member and receive a discount to attend this class and other benefits, click here.
For more information about the class, contact Meredith Davidson davidson@sarsf.org or 505-954-7223.
Photo:Shield figure with four pointed star, Mesa Prieta. Photo by Curt Schaafsma
C.J. Alvarez, Assistant Professor, Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, University of Texas, Austin, and Mellon fellow at SAR
C.J. Alvarez, Mellon fellow, SAR
This talk offers preliminary answers to three big questions based on both archival research and oral histories: 1) What is desert history? The answer varies depending on whether you ask a scientist or humanist. Alvarez will outline a few ways he believes different disciplines can usefully speak to one another, and why environmental historians have often ignored arid lands. 2) What can we learn from desert dwellers? The dominant narratives about drylands have been produced by romantics, developers, and colonial governments, almost none of whom came from deserts themselves. To counter this, Alvarez will explain his commitment to writing biographies of desert people. 3) Where does the U.S.-Mexico border fit in? The international divide passes through the Chihuahuan Desert, but political borders have the effect of emphasizing difference. An environmental lens, Alvarez argues, reveals important but often obscured similarities between the United States and Mexico.
This event is free and open to the public. The presentation will take place in the Eric S. Dobkin Boardroom on the SAR campus. Advanced registration is encouraged.
$125 SAR members // $150 not-yet-members (all but $25 from each ticket is tax deductible) Proceeds support the advancement of knowledge and understanding of humanity through SAR’s scholar and artist programs.
In 2012 author and SAR advisory board member Douglas Preston joined filmmakers Steve Elkins and Bill Benenson, along with a team of U.S. and Honduran scientists, archaeologists, indigenous community members and military personnel, for a journey deep into the Honduran rain forest. Using LIDAR technology, the team discovered signs of a long-hidden precontact metropolis.
Be the first to see the film that brings to life the adventure told in Preston’s 2017 best-selling book, The Lost City of the Monkey God, and join us on the visually stunning and groundbreaking expedition following the team into the dense jungle as they confirm their discovery.
A conversation with the film’s creators will follow the screening.
Next Day Speaker Salon // Thursday, October 24, 2019 // 10:00 a.m. // SAR’s Eric S. Dobkin Boardroom // SAR hosts the filmmakers and special guests for a deeper dive into the project’s history, trials, and triumphs. The salon provides participants with a better understanding of the project’s status today. Registration for the salon is separate from the film registration. Seating is limited and reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. We encourage you to register early. The salon is free for SAR members and $15 not-yet-members Tickets: sarsf.info/lostcitysalon
The salon is free for SAR members and $15 not-yet-members.
Following The Lost City of the Monkey God film premiere at the Violet Crown, SAR hosts Douglas Preston and Steve Elkins along with special guests for a deeper dive into the project’s history, trials, and triumphs. The salon provides participants with a better understanding of the project’s status today.
Registration for the salon is separate from the film registration. If you are interested in the film, please see this calendar listing.
Seating for the salon is limited and reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. We encourage you to register early.
Reservations for campus tours must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Explore the fascinating history, stunning architecture, and beautiful outdoor gardens of the School for Advanced Research. Originally the 1920s home of Amelia Elizabeth White and Martha Root White, the property was bequeathed to SAR in 1972. The 8-acre estate, formerly known as “El Delirio” (The Madness), is the campus for SAR, a research center for anthropology, archaeology, and other social sciences as well as the home to the Indian Arts Research Center.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes so you can fully appreciate the beauty of the campus and its graveled and flagstone walkways.
Tours may be subject to cancellation or rescheduling in case of inclement weather.
Wednesdays at 10 AM from June through September
Fridays at 10 AM year round
Cost $15, free to SAR members
Reservations required availability subject to change
Call (505) 954-7213
Private tours may be arranged for groups of eight people or more at a cost of $20 per person. Please contact the Reception Center at least two weeks in advance of your preferred tour date.
Download the SAR Walking History Tour Map (PDF, 2 MB).
Reservations for campus tours must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Explore the fascinating history, stunning architecture, and beautiful outdoor gardens of the School for Advanced Research. Originally the 1920s home of Amelia Elizabeth White and Martha Root White, the property was bequeathed to SAR in 1972. The 8-acre estate, formerly known as “El Delirio” (The Madness), is the campus for SAR, a research center for anthropology, archaeology, and other social sciences as well as the home to the Indian Arts Research Center.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes so you can fully appreciate the beauty of the campus and its graveled and flagstone walkways.
Tours may be subject to cancellation or rescheduling in case of inclement weather.
Wednesdays at 10 AM from June through September
Fridays at 10 AM year round
Cost $15, free to SAR members
Reservations required availability subject to change
Call (505) 954-7213
Private tours may be arranged for groups of eight people or more at a cost of $20 per person. Please contact the Reception Center at least two weeks in advance of your preferred tour date.
Download the SAR Walking History Tour Map (PDF, 2 MB).
The School for Advanced Research offers innovative and thought-provoking classes on a range of topics for SAR members and the general public. Courses often have opportunities to engage with rarely seen works in the IARC collection or take advantage of the unique resources the campus provides.
An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Maya Civilization
Course Description:
How are recent archaeological studies exploring Pre-Columbian Maya civilization shaping our current understanding of the culture and history? Join Dr. Jeremy Sabloff in a 4-part course exploring the evolution of the field of Maya studies. From new discoveries unlocked through Maya hieroglyphic texts to developments in understanding the settlement patterns of urban centers, Maya archaeology has shifted archaeological studies away from their concentration on the ruling elites to a broader, more realistic approach that looks at all classes and populations, as well as continuities in cultural development over 2 millennia.
This course is presented in four parts:
November 5: An overview of the history of research on the Pre-Columbian Maya and the changing foci of scholars over the past century;
November 7: An exploration of the development of ancient Maya civilization in the lowlands of the Yucatan Peninsula, and the environment, both natural and cultural, within which it grew as well as a concentration on the Preclassic Period (from about 1,000 B.C. to A.D. 250) and the rise of complex societies in the Maya area and its first cities;
November 12: A look at the Classic (A.D. 250-800) and Terminal Classic (A.D. 800-1,000) Periods including the growth of Maya cities such as Tikal and Caracol, the great achievements in art and architecture, the decline of cities in the Southern Lowlands and the florescence in the north;
November 14: And, an exploration of the Postclassic Period (A.D. 1,000 to 1519) including the economic and political developments at cities such as Chichen Itza and Mayapan and the consequences of the 16th century Spanish Conquest.
Course Leader:
Jerry Sabloff
Jerry A. Sabloff
Jerry Sabloff received his Ph.D. In anthropology from Harvard University and his B.A. in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania and an External Professor Emeritus and Past President of the Santa Fe Institute. He is an archaeologist with particular interest in the ancient Maya and has written or edited more than 20 books and monographs (including 4 SAR volumes).
Dates, Times, and Places:
Tuesday, November 5, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Dobkin Boardroom
Thursday, November 7, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Dobkin Boardroom
Tuesday, November 12, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Dobkin Boardroom
Thursday November 14, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Dobkin Boardroom
Cost: $200 for members; $250 for non-members
If you would like to become an SAR member and receive a discount to attend this class and other benefits, click here.
For more information about the class, contact Meredith Davidson davidson@sarsf.org or 505-954-7223.
Sabloff was recently interviewed about the importance of his work and shifts in the field by Knowable Magazine. Learn more and read the interview HERE.