Professors Jeff Ferguson and Rob Walker from the Department of Anthropology, along with Professor Paco Gomez and postdoctoral fellow Sean Polun from our Department of Geological Sciences, are engaged in a new collaborative research initiative. This interdisciplinary endeavor employs cutting-edge drone technology equipped with light detection and ranging (lidar) capabilities to investigate ancient Native American villages known as pueblos. Their focus area is the Lion Mountain region in the western expanse of New Mexico. The primary aim of this project is to enhance our understanding of the intricate relationship between migration patterns, social interactions, and the historical occupations of these pueblo settlements. Check out the following news article and video short on this cutting-edge research!

Also, shoutout to Zach Smith for his help as an Undergraduate research and field assistant on this project!