Following Their Footsteps: Indigenous Geography and the Anza Expedition of 1775–1776

On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Archaeology Southwest Headquarters in downtown Tucson, Aaron Wright (Preservation Archaeologist) discussed “Following Their Footsteps: Indigenous Geography and the Anza Expedition of 1775–1776.” Spanish colonialism succeeded in part by co-opting Indigenous knowledge, resources, and infrastructure—including methods for navigating difficult and dangerous terrain unfamiliar to the colonizers. A prime example is the 1775–1776 overland expedition led by Captain Juan Bautista de Anza, launched to claim and colonize San Francisco Bay, then a remote harbor in Alta California critical to trade between Asia and Spain’s expanding presence in the Americas. In recognition of the expedition’s 250th anniversary, this presentation shares findings from recent archaeological investigations that reveal how the expedition relied on an established Indigenous trail network to successfully traverse the Sonoran Desert—arguably the most challenging segment of the five-month, 1,200-mile journey. This presentation was part of Archaeology Southwest’s Archaeology Café series—an informal forum that brings lifelong learners together with experts. 2025–2026 Archaeology Café: Tread — The Where, How, and Why of Trails & Foot Travel Step into the 2025–2026 season of Archaeology Café: Tread. This year, we’re following the routes people have taken across time—on foot, through memory, and across landscapes. From ancient migrations and sacred trails to trade paths, historical expeditions, and everyday travel, this season explores how movement shapes cultural landscapes in the Southwest and beyond. Trails connect people to place, carry meaning, and leave lasting marks on the land and in our stories. This season, we’re coming home: Archaeology Café is returning to the headquarters of Archaeology Southwest in downtown Tucson—and adding a live Zoom Webinar option so you can join the Café in real time from wherever you are. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and talks begin at 6:00 p.m. Can’t make it in person? Recordings are posted here on our YouTube channel a few days later. History has many paths—let’s walk a few together. Archaeology Café is made possible by BMO and The Smith Family Trust.