Archaeology Café: “Following Their Footsteps: Indigenous Geography and the Anza Expedition of 1775–1776” with Aaron Wright
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | Doors 5:30 p.m. | Talk 6:00 p.m.
Location: Archaeology Southwest Headquarters, 300 N Ash Alley, Tucson, AZ
Attend in person or online via Zoom Webinar

Join archaeologist Aaron Wright as he explores how the 1775–1776 Anza Expedition relied on Indigenous knowledge and trail networks to navigate the harsh Sonoran Desert. Spanish colonial expansion often depended on Indigenous expertise, and the Anza Expedition is a powerful example of how Native geographies shaped one of the most ambitious overland journeys of the colonial era. In recognition of the expedition’s 250th anniversary, Wright will share new archaeological findings that reveal how collaboration, adaptation, and resilience defined this historic route and its lasting cultural legacy.

Recordings of each Archaeology Café are posted online following the event.