Archives West Finding Aid

The Glen Canyon archaeological survey films were created by the University of Utah Department of Anthropology, the University of Utah Audiovisual Bureau (defunct) and the National Park Service. They highlight the process and progress of the University of Utah's role in the National Park Service grant-funded emergency archeological survey and excavation of Glen Canyon and its vicinity between 1957 and 1960 in preparation for the flooding of Lake Powell in September 1963. The films feature footage shot along the Colorado and Escalante Rivers from before the creation of Lake Powell and show footage of the excavation of notable Anasazi ruin sites such as "Defiance House" and the now submerged "Loper Ruin." University of Utah archaeologist Jesse Jennings describes the extent of the project and the actions taken by scientists both in the field and in the University of Utah's archeology lab. Jennings narrates the films but appears in front of the camera only at the beginning of part 3.

In these educational films by Jesse D. Jennings demonstrates "tabletop archaeology," the creation and excavation of miniature archaeological sites that simulate real digs. Jennings gives an overview of tabletop archeology and demonstrates how the tiny sites are made and used. One of Jennings' most popular courses, this particular course was a one week intensive demonstration of field archology conducted at the University of Nevada, Reno in January 1989 at the request of Don Fowler, a professor in the Department of Anthropology. Jennings' narration of the exercise was filmed by his son, David, who edited the final version.