Keet Seel cliff dwellings in Navajo National Monument
The Independent
While the West is undeniably younger when it comes to colonial history, it is, however, imbued with a history of civilizations and culture that predate foreign settlers. In fact, a fascination with these ancient civilizations and the mysteries surrounding them is the very thing that draws people to this part of the country. Along these lines, Dr. Einar Erickson, noted scholar and adventurer, will be talking about his adventures and discoveries of ancient sites throughout the Southwest on Thursday, June 25, at 5 p.m. in the Community Room of the St. George Library.
Having a rich and varied background in archaeology, Dr. Erickson has found and mapped 1,700 sites as a volunteer archaeologist for the Navajo Nation, Kaibab Forest, Saddle Mountain Wilderness Area, and the Kanab Wilderness Area. As part of his presentation on Thursday, entitled “Southwest Indian Treasure Hunting,” Dr. Erickson will have an exhibit of Native American obsidian and craft objects from the ancient civilizations that once thrived in southwest Utah, and he will give a history of the regions where he found extensive villages. He will share his knowledge of the Southwest and geology of the Colorado Plateau and the Native Americans that live in the area.
The seeds of his interest in history and archaeology were planted age of sixteen when he won a Boy Scout scholarship in archaeology and geology. He was headquartered in Mancos, Colorado, and took excursions into the ruins of the Mesa Verde, Navajo Country, Canyon de Chelly, the canyons around Navajo Monument, and Kayenta. He spent time with Navajo and Hopi, which made an impact on his life and stimulated lifetime interest in Native American cultures. Later in his life, using his skills as a bush pilot, Erickson did volunteer work for the Navajo Tribal Museum, locating Pueblo III sites and cliff dwellings from the air and then verifying them by ground trips.
Dr. Erickson is a registered professional engineer, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and geology and a master’s degree in economic geology from Brigham Young University. He obtained his Ph.D. in A.S. Near Eastern Studies from George Wythe College. He has taught or lectured on geology and mining at Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Dixie State College, and many other colleges and universities. He has acted as a consultant for various companies. He is an exploration geologist, a hydrogeologist, a pyro-metallurgist and a metallurgist, a licensed drilling contractor, and a mining engineer.
For more information on Dr. Erickson’s presentation “Southwest Indian Treasure Hunting,” please call Ruth Tanner at the St. George Library at (435) 634-5737, ext. 2284.
