It has been argued one reason that the pre-Columbian American Southwest has been viewed as a culture area distinct from Mesoamerica is the existence of the modern international border that separates the United Stated from Mexico. Some note that nationalism and different languages, on both sides of the border, have contributed to independent academic development. But what was the relationship among ancient people living between Durango, Colorado in the north and Durango, Mexico, in the south? How do recent discoveries challenge our traditional thinking about this area? Were these people only casual trading partners or did they share more substantial and important cultural connections as well? 

Our esteemed panel of Southwest and Mesoamerican scholars will re-examine the relationship between these two culture areas, with their acknowledged differences and many important similarities. Join us while we peel away modern political boundaries to reveal how Pre-Hispanic societies interacted across this vast territory during their extensive prehistory.