Peter J. Pilles. Jr., Forest Service Archaeologist for the Coconino National Forest since 1975,  will speak on

"The Legacy of New Deal Programs to the Archaeology of Northern Arizona."

During the 1930s, federal New Deal programs financed many archaeological projects in northern Arizona. Within National Parks and Monuments, surveys and excavations were undertaken for the public to see archaeological sites, and visitor centers were constructed to display and interpret the archaeology.  Several major Museum of Northern Arizona expeditions were supported by New Deal programs. Excavations from 1933 to 1939 were directed by professional archaeologists employed by the Museum. This work took place during a time when little was known about the prehistory of northern Arizona and the field of Southwestern archaeology was relatively new.

Peter J. Pilles, Jr. has been the5.  He received a BA degree from Arizona State University, and began his career at Pueblo Grande Museum and the Museum of Northern Arizona. He has presented over 70 papers, authored 50 publications and received awards including from the Governor of Arizona, that reflect his specialty areas of central and northern Arizona prehistory, rock art, ceramics, cultural resource management, and public archaeology.