Verde Valley Archaeology Center & Museum

Verde Valley Archaeology Center & Museum OUR MISSION is to preserve archaeological sites and collections, to curate the collections locally, and to make them available for research and education.

Our exhibit features artifacts and displays that address the ancient people in the Verde Valley from the Paleo period to contemporary time. The cultures include the Hohokam, Sinagua, Yavapia-Apache Nation and more.

We were thrilled to host 9th graders from Prescott Valley Charter School! The students participated in a pottery identif...
09/01/2026

We were thrilled to host 9th graders from Prescott Valley Charter School! The students participated in a pottery identification workshop and toured the museum.

Education is a key part of our mission and we work with public, private, and homeschool groups.

A big thanks to Jim Graceffa, Jan Anderson, Sylvia Strobel, and Monica Buckle for facilitating the workshop and tour!

Mark your calendars! Join us at the museum on Saturday, November 7 for “Seasons of Life: An Exploration of Abstract Symb...
08/31/2026

Mark your calendars! Join us at the museum on Saturday, November 7 for “Seasons of Life: An Exploration of Abstract Symbolism in Hopi Art” presented by acclaimed artist Monica Nuvamsa (Hopi/Acoma/Havasupai).

Nuvamsa will share deeper insight to her more popular art pieces including four-part series called “A Journey of Life” and “Seasons of Change” which have both been made into puzzles, and swaddle blanket series called “First Blessings.” Through these pieces, the audience will learn what inspires the artist, her technique and connects to her spirituality and culture.

The presentation and complimentary reception are free and open-to-the-public. Due to demand seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

We are hosting a Harvest Corn Study workshop on Saturday, September 26th for our museum members to assist with completio...
08/29/2026

We are hosting a Harvest Corn Study workshop on Saturday, September 26th for our museum members to assist with completion of a corn study!

Join Rob Estrada, VVAC’s Ethnobotanist, at our Native American Heritage Garden to harvest corn and collect data to help determine which of twenty FDA registered heritage varieties grow best in the harsh conditions of Central Arizona. This is part of an ongoing study that Estrada and garden volunteers have been conducting for three years.

Please note, this is a members-only event due to demand and limited corn supply. To register and find more information, visit this link: https://www.verdevalleyarchaeology.org/events/members-harvest-corn-study

To learn more about the corn study, read our October 2024 feature article here: https://www.verdevalleyarchaeology.org/blog/vvacs-living-laboratory-our-native-american-heritage-gardennbsp

Dr. Jim Graceffa, VVAC’s Lab Manager, recently published his new book “A Field Guide to Projectile Point Identification ...
08/28/2026

Dr. Jim Graceffa, VVAC’s Lab Manager, recently published his new book “A Field Guide to Projectile Point Identification for the Verde Valley, Arizona.”

This field guide is a culmination of years of Dr. Graceffa’s research and the only comprehensive guide for projectile points specific to the region. The book launched at the annual Pecos Conference earlier this month where it was a big hit!

The book is available for purchase at the museum. We are open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last admission at 3) until Labor Day, where we resume normal hours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cooling off in the Verde River is a great way to spend balmy August afternoons, just like the roundtail chub, a member o...
08/26/2026

Cooling off in the Verde River is a great way to spend balmy August afternoons, just like the roundtail chub, a member of the carp and minnow family.

This native fish is silvery olive-gray with forked tail fins and can reach up to 20 inches in length. They are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders and eat plant material, invertebrates, fish, frogs, and the occasional lizard. They can live up to 10 years.

These fish live in pools and eddies of warm creeks and rivers in the Colorado River Basin, where they occupy less than 20% of their historic range. They’re threatened by the introduction of nonnative fish and habitat destruction from urban and agricultural development, water withdrawal, livestock grazing, and dams. Other native fish species in the Verde River include Sonora sucker, Colorado pikeminnow, and longfin dace.

Image courtesy of USFS/Matthew Peterson

Yavapai College Community Education is teaching a course on Cliff Dwellings of Central Arizona this fall! Students will ...
08/25/2026

Yavapai College Community Education is teaching a course on Cliff Dwellings of Central Arizona this fall!

Students will learn about the architecture, engineering, cultural context, and environmental settings of cliff dwellings in central Arizona while identifying key sites and recognizing modern preservation challenges.

For more information and to register, visit this link: https://www.yc.edu/v6/lifelong-learning/ce.html

The Sonoran mud turtle knows how to cool off in the summer heat! This medium-sized turtle has a light brown to yellow-br...
08/20/2026

The Sonoran mud turtle knows how to cool off in the summer heat!

This medium-sized turtle has a light brown to yellow-brown shell that’s often partially covered with algae—probably from hanging out in the water all day! These turtles are stream dwellers that live in waterways ranging from central Arizona into Sonora.

During the hot summer months, they’re most active at night. They prefer invertebrates and forage on the stream bottom for insects, crustaceans, fish, frogs, and plants. Mud turtles can emit a pungent musk when disturbed.

Sonoran mud turtles are found in the Verde Valley in places like Beaver Creek and Montezuma Well. Red-eared sliders, a turtle native to the southeastern U.S., were introduced to Montezuma Well in the late 60s, competing with mud turtles for resources and causing a decline in this native species. A removal program from 2007 to 2011 captured these non-native sliders and donated them to the Phoenix Herpetological Society to live in captivity, allowing the mud turtles to thrive.

Visit our exhibit “Tim's Cave Reimagined: Stewarding a Cultural Collection” to beat the summer heat! This exhibit tells ...
08/19/2026

Visit our exhibit “Tim's Cave Reimagined: Stewarding a Cultural Collection” to beat the summer heat!

This exhibit tells the story of how a chance sighting of artifacts and cultural items by helicopter led to a theft, a recovery effort by the United States Forest Service, and a federal investigation. The narrative explores the history of the Hisatsinom (Sinagua) who inhabited the region while weaving in the importance of visiting with respect and of Tribal collaboration in archaeology present-day.

Thank you to the Museum of Northern Arizona and Coconino National Forest.

Visitors can view the exhibit during our summer museum hours, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last admission at 3 p.m.

Address

460 W. Finnie Flat Road
Camp Verde, AZ
86322

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+1 928-567-0066

Website

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