The Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross State University will host its 30th Annual Conference on November 8-9 at the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center on the Alpine campus. This year’s event will feature a keynote address by Dr. Severin Fowles, a distinguished archaeologist and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Barnard College.
Dr. Fowles, whose research focuses on Indigenous cultures in New Mexico and Colorado, will present a talk titled “The Athapaskan Image: Seven Centuries of Innovation in the American Southwest.” His address will explore the Southern Athapaskan cultural tradition, specifically through the lens of rock art. By interpreting this art, Fowles aims to shed new light on the broader patterns of the Athapaskan tradition across the Northern Rio Grande Valley, the Pueblo region, and the Southern Plains.
Fowles’ work, which refines the understanding of regional image production, highlights centuries of cultural innovation. His insights into this tradition will be shared during the conference’s Saturday night banquet at the Emmett & Miriam McCoy Building at the Museum of the Big Bend.
The conference, which has become a staple for historians and researchers interested in the Big Bend region, offers opportunities for members of the public and academic community to explore a wide range of topics related to the history, culture, and archaeology of the area. Registration costs $55 for members and $60 for non-members, with free entry for lifetime members and Sul Ross State University students, staff, and faculty.
Banquet tickets, which include Dr. Fowles’ keynote, are priced at $50 for members, students, staff, and faculty, and $55 for the general public.
For more information about the event, including tickets and registration, visit cbbs.sulross.edu/conference.
