Vard Coombs Talk - February 7, 2011

In a talk delivered on February 7, 2011, Vard Coombs reflects on his childhood growing up on the Coombs Site in Boulder, Utah, the location of an Anasazi archeological park that his father sold to the state. He vividly describes daily life without electricity, using hand-cranked tools, coal oil lamps, and bathing in a number three tub, and shares anecdotes about local landmarks like the old post office and the challenges of siphoning gasoline. Coombs recounts his experiences working on the archeological excavation of the Coombs Site in 1959, including the discovery of artifacts and burials, and touches on theories about why the Anasazi left the area. He concludes by discussing the ongoing preservation efforts at the site and the potential for future excavations.