Cochise College history instructor Becky Orozco places artifacts in the new archeology display last week on the Sierra Vista Campus.
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise College will host a reception to unveil a new archeology collection on display in the lobby of the Andrea Cracchiolo Library on the Sierra Vista Campus at 4:30 p.m. May 12, prior to the monthly governing board meeting.
“The Prehistoric Peoples of Cochise County” is a collection of artifacts from an archeology program that thrived during the first two decades after Cochise College opened its doors. Students studied archeology and anthropology through excavation and survey programs.
Artifacts on display include ceramics, stone and other assorted materials.
“At least seven major excavations took place during the years of the active program,” said Rebecca Orozco, history instructor at the college. “Surveys that collected sample materials during the years of the archeology program covered the whole county, resulting in a study collection of ceramics from prehistoric cultures in the area that rivals or indeed surpasses any other existing collection.”
The college has also received donations from local families of items collected over many years from Cochise County and northern Mexico, as well as a 1974 donation of artifacts seized by U.S. Customs.
“Cochise College possesses an incredible resource,” Orozco said. “We have quite a collection of artifacts, including ceramics, stone, and assorted other materials.”
Becky Orozco arranges stone tools in the display housed in the library on the Sierra Vista Campus.
The new display is the second installation to showcase these artifacts; the first is housed in the entrance of the Administration Building on the Douglas Campus. Both displays are funded by a contribution from alumni John and Rosaline Pintek, Bisbee and Douglas natives, respectively. John Pintek was the college’s first Student Government president and is a former Cochise County sheriff.
The display cabinets on the Douglas Campus were re-purposed by Department of Corrections students under the instruction of Douglas Curtis. They also drew up the plans for the Sierra Vista Campus cabinets, which were built by Alma Hunt’s Building Construction Technology class. Hunt’s cabinetmaking students at Willcox High School helped build the floating shelves to hold the artifacts in the cabinet.
For more information about “The Prehistoric Peoples of Cochise County” reception or the collection, contact Orozco at orozcor@cochise.edu or (520) 417-4772.
Anyone needing an accommodation in order to attend the reception should contact the Disability Services Office at (520) 515-5337 or (520) 417-4023 at least 72 hours in advance.