SOUTHWEST—Project Archaeology’s Terry and Tracy Trowel, stars of the #TravelingTrowels social media campaign, recently made a stop in New Mexico, and The Archaeological Conservancy was glad to host their visit. The Trowels toured a Conservancy Preserve: Tijeras Canyon Village, a small pueblo community associated with the ancestral Tiwa of southern New Mexico and occupied for roughly 125 years beginning around A.D. 1313.
When Tracy Trowel slipped behind the sign, Conservancy staff Kevin Wojdanowski, left, and Justin Spencer, right, formed a rescue crew.
Located just a few miles from Tijeras Pueblo (likely the region’s central village), the site sits near the intersection of the Turquoise Trail and historic Route 66, a fitting crossroads for an archaeology road trip. The visit also included a stop at the Conservancy’s headquarters in Albuquerque.
The day came with a memorable fieldwork-style moment: when Tracy Trowel slipped behind the Tijeras Pueblo Archaeological Site sign during a photo opportunity, a quick “rescue crew—Associate Membership Director Justin Spencer and Administrative Specialist Kevin Wojdanowski—used double-sided tape and a long ruler to bring her safely back into view.
Pictured: When Tracy Trowel slipped behind the sign, Conservancy staff Kevin Wojdanowski, left, and Justin Spencer, right, formed a rescue crew. Photo by Tracy Loe.
