NM Office of Archaeological Studies

NM Office of Archaeological Studies Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from NM Office of Archaeological Studies, Archaeological service, 7 Old Cochiti Road, Santa Fe, NM.

The Office of Archaeological Studies (OAS) promotes the understanding and preservation of New Mexico’s rich archaeological heritage through our diverse programs of public archaeological services, specialized research, outreach and education.

Recently, OAS staff and volunteers visited the Picuris Pueblo Museum and Interpretive Center. We had a wonderful time an...
09/01/2026

Recently, OAS staff and volunteers visited the Picuris Pueblo Museum and Interpretive Center. We had a wonderful time and learned so much! Thank you to Director John Galuska and the Pueblo for their hospitality. We are already looking forward to visiting again and exploring opportunities to work with the museum in the future.

In MemoriamMarvin Rowe was a Research Associate at the Office of Archaeological Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a C...
08/27/2026

In Memoriam

Marvin Rowe was a Research Associate at the Office of Archaeological Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a Chemistry Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University–Qatar. He received his B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from New Mexico Tech in 1959 and began his scientific career at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where his work measuring radioactivity in meteorites earned the 1964 Nininger Award.

Rowe completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Arkansas in 1966, earning a second Nininger Award for discovering extinct plutonium‑244 in the early Solar System. Following a Miller Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physics at the University of California, Berkeley, he joined the faculty at Texas A&M University in 1969.

In 1990, Rowe shifted his research to archaeological chemistry, developing plasma‑based techniques to extract organic carbon from rock art and artifacts for radiocarbon dating. His innovations were recognized with numerous honors, including the Castleton Award (1998), the A.J. and Frank Bock Award (2010), and the Fryxell Award from the Society for American Archaeology for his contributions to archaeological science (2014).
Rowe has published more than 400 scientific papers, over 120 of them in archaeological chemistry.

The people at OAS knew Marvin as a friend and colleague and his contributions to the research and life at OAS will be deeply missed.

“…if we wish to have a future with greater meaning, we must concern ourselves not only with the historic highlights, but...
07/28/2026

“…if we wish to have a future with greater meaning, we must concern ourselves not only
with the historic highlights, but we must be concerned with the total heritage of the nation
and all that is worth preserving from our past as a living part of the present.”

This is the overarching sentiment of the seminal report With Heritage So Rich, the
document that spurred passage of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966,
as amended. Indeed, the preamble to the act paraphrases that sentiment, declaring that
“the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of
our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American
people.”

These sentiments do not represent a narrow interest. The committee that authored With
Heritage So Rich represented a broad coalition of leaders from across the United States
including the United States Conference of Mayors. Those leaders believed that historic
preservation represented the will of the people and served our collective national interest.

Our mission at the Office of Archaeological Studies is to promote the understanding and
preservation of New Mexico’s archaeological heritage. In New Mexico, we understand
deeply that history is a living part of our community life. The consultation process that is
outlined in Section 106 is an essential function of heritage preservation. Without
consultation with SHPOs, THPOs, the public and all parties, the intent of the NHPA -- to
give consideration to the total heritage of the nation for a more meaningful future -- cannot
be realized.

This summer the Office of Archaeological Studies has visited 35 libraries throughout New Mexico as part of “Unearth a St...
07/23/2026

This summer the Office of Archaeological Studies has visited 35 libraries throughout New Mexico as part of “Unearth a Story”, the state’s summer reading program. We’ve visited towns in every part of New Mexico with a touch and feel tabletop museum of artifacts and replicas that represent the culture and technologies of the earliest known Americans. It’s not over yet, we’ll be visiting Los Lunas, Magdalena, Carrizozo and the Village of Corona before July ends. Check your local library’s schedule, we’d love to see you!

Join us for a free Brown Bag Lecture with OAS archaeologist Steven Needle, M.A., on Tuesday, July 8 at 12 p.m. at the Ce...
06/23/2026

Join us for a free Brown Bag Lecture with OAS archaeologist Steven Needle, M.A., on Tuesday, July 8 at 12 p.m. at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology (CNMA).

“Sandal Canyon Cave (LA 8677): Typological Classification of a Jornada Mogollon Cave Assemblage”

Discover new insights from the remarkable artifact assemblage recovered from Sandal Canyon Cave in the San Andres Mountains within White Sands Missile Range. Originally excavated in 1961, the collection has now been reexamined by Steven Needle, revealing important clues about the chronology, culture, and landscape use of the Jornada Mogollon people who once occupied the cave.

Learn about the artifacts, the history of the excavation, and what this unique cave deposit tells us about the people of southern New Mexico.

📍 Center for New Mexico Archaeology (CNMA)
📅 Tuesday, July 8
⏰ 12 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to the public

OAS often provides archaeological services for other Cultural Affairs divisions. Recently, OAS archaeologists were at th...
05/09/2026

OAS often provides archaeological services for other Cultural Affairs divisions. Recently, OAS archaeologists were at the Los Luceros historic site monitoring utility upgrades. Pictured is one of the beautiful carved wooden doors at the building known as the Almacen.

Did you know? 🚌The Office of Archaeological Studies offers field trips to the Center for New Mexico Archaeology—and fund...
04/23/2026

Did you know? 🚌

The Office of Archaeological Studies offers field trips to the Center for New Mexico Archaeology—and funding may be available to help your school get there.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Friends of Archaeology, schools across New Mexico can apply for support through the OAS School Bus Fund, designed to help cover transportation costs for classes that might not otherwise be able to attend. Give your students the chance to explore archaeology, history, and hands-on learning in an engaging environment.

To learn more or request transportation assistance, please visit https://nmarchaeology.org/education-outreach/ or contact Ziggy Prothro at [email protected].

This is your chance to show up for New Mexico. Join Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Salamanca Twins at The Great...
04/17/2026

This is your chance to show up for New Mexico. Join Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Salamanca Twins at The Great NM Clean Up, April 17 & 18 in Española, Taos, Los Lunas, and Socorro to help keep litter out of our territory. Keep Litter Out NM

Find clean-up events around the state at breakingbadhabits.nm.gov

Join us for a free public brown bag lecture today at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology at noon. 7 Old Cochiti Road, ...
04/15/2026

Join us for a free public brown bag lecture today at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology at noon. 7 Old Cochiti Road, Santa Fe.

Address

7 Old Cochiti Road
Santa Fe, NM
87507

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(505) 476-4443

Website

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