
Mesa Prieta is a stretch of land about 12 miles long, which runs between Ohkay Owingeh to the south and Embudo to the north. The site encompasses a wealth of archaeological features, including over 75,000 petroglyphs. The Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project has committed to recording all of these petroglyphs and other important features on the mesa, and each year they invite youth to come and share in the experience.
Interns will be trained by archaeologists and experienced petroglyph recorders and will learn a variety of skills including digital photography, drawing, measuring, data recording, mapping and the use of compass and Global Positioning System (GPS) units. The workdays will be Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 pm. There will be a modest stipend awarded to the interns who complete the two-week program. Information collected by the project will be entered into computers using ArcView and other GIS (Geographic Information System) data management programs. Results will then be shared with individual landowners and the New Mexico Archaeological Records Management Section.
The application process is competitive, with only 12 spaces available! Applicants must be 13 to18 years old, enrolled in school, drug- and alcohol-free, and in good physical condition. Smoking will not be allowed on the project. Sturdy footwear for challenging hiking will be required.
Application forms can be found at: http://mesaprietapetroglyphs.org/page-1556006. Applications must be submitted by May 8, 2015. For more information, contact Janet MacKenzie at 505-852-1351, or mesaprieta@cybermesa.com. To learn more about the Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project, go to http://mesaprietapetroglyphs.org/.