For More Information
Visit the Apex, Arizona Archaeology Project WebsiteEmail Emily Dale: emily.dale@nau.edu
Apex, Arizona Archaeology Project Artifact Blog
Each month, we will highlight some of the interesting artifacts and artifact categories we have found in our archaeological investigations at Apex! Posts will be written by staff and students. We’ll also reveal some of the “mystery” objects we’ve uncovered to see if anyone can tell us more about them!
Recent Blogs
“A Tablespoon As Needed”: Medicinal Alcohol at Apex in the Prohibition Era
By Rachael O'Hara October 2, 2025 Rachael is a current anthropology Master’s student at NAU, and graduated with her Bachelor’s in anthropology from the university in 2020. She is a historical archaeologist specializing in consumption, capitalism, and their interactions with identity throughout the 20th century. She was the Graduate Assistant for the Apex Field School through the 2024 and 2025 field seasons. Rachael previously wrote a blog on artifacts associated with beer brewing during Prohibition! For more about Apex or…
Stepping Through Time to Apex Footwear Artifacts
By Fran Maiuri September 2, 2025 Fran Maiuri has an M.A. and ED.S in education from the University of Arizona and a B.A. in Behavioral Science, a multi-disciplinary program with a focus on Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology from SUNY Plattsburgh. She worked for over 20 years, much of it in rural and remote Native Alaskan villages, supporting students, teachers, and parents to educate students with very different learning needs in their local schools. In her retirement she volunteers for a…
Passport In Time Projects at the Apex Site
by Adrienne Dale August 5, 2025 Adrienne Dale retired from 40 years in public education as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator. She now spends her time travelling to exciting places and undertaking new experiences, including 7 PIT projects with her daughter Emily Dale. For more about Apex or the Apex, Arizona Archaeology Project, visit our website or email Dr. Emily Dale at emily.dale@nau.edu. In June of 2025 I volunteered for a third year at the Apex Site in Coconino…
California Dreamin': Apex - Los Angeles Connections
By Emily Dale June 2, 2025 This blog is based on Emily's 2025 Society for Historical Archaeology Conference presentation, "Trading Pines for Wines: Consumer Ties between the 20th Century Arizona Timber and California Fruit-Packing Industries." For more about Apex or the Apex, Arizona Archaeology Project, visit our website or email Dr. Emily Dale at emily.dale@nau.edu. Despite the isolated nature of Apex and the economic impacts of the Great Depression, the residents at the lumber camp had access to a wide…
Just Add Water: How Early Advertising Shaped Cocoa Powder Diversity at Apex, Arizona
By Zulia DeWire June 4, 2025 Zulia is a Junior Anthropology major at NAU who is focusing on Southwestern Archaeology. She will be graduating in December of 2025 and will be pursuing a career within Cultural Resource Management. Her research on Apex's cocoa brands was part of her NAU Interns-to-Scholars project; read their poster (Just Add Water: How Early Advertising Shaped Cocoa Powder Diversity at Apex, Arizona) for more information! For more about Apex or the Apex, Arizona Archaeology Project,…