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Welcome to the Fall 2025–Spring 2026 Tumamoc Author Series, a collaboration between the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, the Southwest Center, and the University of Arizona Press.
Each season, as the sun gives us a well-deserved break and shadows stretch across ancient Tumamoc Hill, we gather to hear from writers whose work captures the spirit, complexity, and wonder of the Southwest. This year’s lineup continues that tradition, featuring authors who challenge, illuminate, and celebrate the landscapes and cultures of our shared region. Join us for evenings of conversation, reflection, and community in one of Tucson’s most storied places.
We start the series with archaeologist Patricia Gilman, who will take us back 900 years when the Mimbres culture flourished in eastern Arizona. She will talk about her new book, co-authored with Mary Whisenhunt: Mimbres Far from the Heartland: Identity at the Powers Ranch Site of East-Central Arizona. Mimbres culture is famous for its black-on-white pottery and large, compact pueblo villages. Through excavation and analysis of architecture and a rich array of artifacts, including ceramic sherds, projectile points, and shell artifacts, Gilman and Whisenhunt provide a detailed look at the lives of Mimbres people on the periphery. Gilman will be in conversation with Linda Gregonis, co-author with Victoria Riley Evans of The Hohokam and Their World.