Don Keller, Archaeologist
Don Keller spent 15 years with MNA’s Archaeology Department and continues to consult on a variety of projects. His fascination with the Southwest began during his graduate studies in the 1970s, when he spent several summers with the Cedar Mesa Project in southeastern Utah. This experience introduced him to the work of Bill Lipe and R.G. Matson, the canyon and slickrock country, and the people and archaeology of the Colorado Plateau.
In the years since, Keller has led a wide range of trips and studies throughout Arizona and Utah. A frequent Ventures trip leader, Keller strives to help participants understand the landscapes, the resources they contain, and the way these resources have been used over time to create human settlement — as he says, “to see how the sacred land cradles the gift of life.” He believes that the past has left us worthwhile lessons and that, even if these lessons come to us indirectly, they broaden and add value to our perspectives. Keller adds, “Although archaeological work is done in the context of broad anthropological and cultural goals, we should never forget how much individuality there is in the places and histories of the peoples of the Southwest.”