Low Impact, High Resolution: Ongoing Investigations in Eagle Nest Canyon

Eagle Nest Canyon is a box-canyon tributary to the Rio Grande near Langtry, Texas in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. This short canyon played an outsized role in 1930s-1980s Lower Pecos archaeology through seminal excavations at three of its rockshelters, most famously Bonfire Shelter. In 2013 Texas State University's Ancient Southwest Texas Project launched a long-term collaborative research program to investigate the human and natural history of Eagle Nest Canyon, share what we learn, and conserve the Canyon's rockshelters for future generations. The 2014 season focused on Skiles Shelter, Kelley Cave, Horse Trail Shelter, and Eagle Cave, while the 2015 investigations will concentrate on the latter. “Low impact, high resolution” characterizes our investigative philosophy and methodology. This symposium summarizes work accomplished to date, including investigative methods and results, 3D modeling, site formation processes, geoarchaeology, archaeobotany, and the ongoing spring 2015 field session.