by Travis Hendryx, Office of Public Relations

Historians, archaeologists and other Big Bend region enthusiasts will be on hand for the 26th Annual Conference of the Center for Big Bend Studies (CBBS), scheduled for Friday and Saturday,

November 8 and 9 at the Morgan University Center.

More than 40 presentations will be featured during this year’s event covering a wide range of topics from prehistoric rock art to astronauts in the Big Bend.

“The conference should have a little something for everyone’s interest,” said Andy Cloud, CBBS Director.

Cloud added that Dr. Pedro Francisco Sanchez Nava, Mexico’s National Coordinator of Archaeology, will be among the distinguished and honored guests at the 2019 conference.

Nava also serves as a representative of the Instituto Nacional de Antroplogia e Historia with whom the CBBS and Sul Ross recently signed a cooperative agreement.

“The agreement is a Memorandum of Understanding” said Cloud. “It is desgined to promote collaboration on projects in the borderlands region.”

Sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. in the University Center on Friday, November 8 and will continue throughout the day.

A reception will be held at 5:30 that evening in the UC followed by the banquet at 6:30. Author Patrick Dearen will be the keynote speaker.

Sessions will continue Saturday morning at 8:30.

Registration will be held Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. in the UC.

Admission to the conference is free for Sul Ross students, faculty, staff and CBBS members but registration is required.

Cost for the Friday night banquet is $35.00 per person.

Sul Ross State University established the Center for Big Bend Studies in 1987 to support and promote archaelogical and historical activities in the Trans-Pecos and Big Bend region of Texas and northern Mexico.

The Center provides educational opportunities to Sul Ross students, the public and outside researchers.

For more information on the conference including registration and membership, visit the CBBS homepage at cbbs.sulross.edu.