Yucca as a Raw Material in the Past and Present Brown Bag Talks

Yucca fiber has been a staple of the Office of Archaeological Studies’ education outreach programs, and more recently we have explored its modern potential as part of an economic development exploration. This presentation reviews how yucca fiber and leaves were used in the past, based on archaeological materials from throughout the Southwest. It covers “old ground” in terms of artifact forms, evidence for processing, and what we have learned through replication that may or may not be applicable to understanding the past. The presentation also covers “new ground” with comment on what we have learned through the economic development experiments.

The Brown Bag talks will take place at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology at 12:00 noon in the CNMA library. Seating is limited. Admission is free.

The Center for New Mexico Archaeology (7 Old Cochiti Road) is located off of Caja del Rio Road, across from Challenge New Mexico on the way to the Santa Fe Municipal Golf Course. Take 599 to South Meadows Road, continue through the traffic circle west along the Frontage Road to Caja del Rio Road. CNMA is on the left-hand side of the road and is the large building with white sail-like skylights on the roof.