Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest
Episode 5: "Trails as Transcendental Archaeology,” written and read by Aaron Wright.
In this episode of Preservation Stories, Aaron Wright explains how he became and archaeologist studying Indigenous trails through his earlier work on petroglyphs and ground figures in desert landscapes. It explores how fragile desert pavements served as both artistic canvases and travel surfaces, preserving evidence of human movement while also being vulnerable to damage from animals and vehicles. By examining the relationship between trails, artifacts, and sacred features, the work shows how trails were not just routes of travel but integral parts of cultural and spiritual landscapes. Ultimately, it reframes archaeology from isolated objects and sites to interconnected networks of people, movement, memory, and meaning spread across the land over time.
This piece is part of Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest, a new audio series featuring personal reflections and first-hand perspectives on land, memory, stewardship, and the deep histories held in landscapes across the Southwest.
Listen to the full story and read the original blog:
archaeologysouthwest.org/2025/12/23/trails-as-transcendental-archaeology
About this series
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest shares short, author-read pieces that explore how people connect with place — through archaeology, lived experience, Indigenous knowledge, science, stewardship, and memory. Each episode offers a glimpse into the many ways we understand and care for the lands of the Southwest.
Support Preservation Work
This audio story accompanies our Year-End Campaign, which focuses on the many ways trails connect people, histories, and landscapes.
If this story resonates with you, consider supporting our work:
archaeologysouthwest.org/join_donate
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest
Episode 5: "Trails as Transcendental Archaeology,” written and read by Aaron Wright.
In this episode of Preservation Stories, Aaron Wright explains how he became and archaeologist studying Indigenous trails through his earlier work on petroglyphs and ground figures in desert landscapes. It explores how fragile desert pavements served as both artistic canvases and travel surfaces, preserving evidence of human movement while also being vulnerable to damage from animals and vehicles. By examining the relationship between trails, artifacts, and sacred features, the work shows how trails were not just routes of travel but integral parts of cultural and spiritual landscapes. Ultimately, it reframes archaeology from isolated objects and sites to interconnected networks of people, movement, memory, and meaning spread across the land over time.
This piece is part of Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest, a new audio series featuring personal reflections and first-hand perspectives on land, memory, stewardship, and the deep histories held in landscapes across the Southwest.
Listen to the full story and read the original blog:
archaeologysouthwest.org/2025/12/23/trails-as-transcendental-archaeology
About this series
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest shares short, author-read pieces that explore how people connect with place — through archaeology, lived experience, Indigenous knowledge, science, stewardship, and memory. Each episode offers a glimpse into the many ways we understand and care for the lands of the Southwest.
Support Preservation Work
This audio story accompanies our Year-End Campaign, which focuses on the many ways trails connect people, histories, and landscapes.
If this story resonates with you, consider supporting our work:
archaeologysouthwest.org/join_donate
