The Archaeology of Eagle Nest Canyon, Texas: Papers in Honor of Jack and Wilmuth Skiles

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "The Archaeology of Eagle Nest Canyon, Texas: Papers in Honor of Jack and Wilmuth Skiles" at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Lower Pecos Canyonlands of southwest Texas and adjacent parts of Mexico constitute a unique region at the juncture of the Chihuahuan Desert and the Great Plains where the Pecos, the Rio Grande, and their tributaries form deep canyons in limestone bedrock. The arid environment has supported a diverse range of cultural adaptations and lifeways, and is well known for its dry rockshelters, bison kills, polychrome rock art, and extensive plant-baking features, as exemplified at Eagle Nest Canyon. Landowners Jack and Wilmuth Skiles have been an essential part of preserving that record and supporting archaeological research through stewardship, access to their land, and their supportive collaboration with students, volunteers, and professionals. The Ancient Southwest Texas Project (ASWT) of Texas State University has worked with the Skiles family for the past 15 years with the goals of understanding and protecting the archaeological record, sharing results with the scholarly community and public, and training the next generation of archaeologists. The papers in this symposium highlight research accomplished in and around Eagle Nest Canyon through the ongoing collaboration between ASWT and the Skiles family and reflect the great potential that arises from strong relations between archaeologists and stewards of the land.