Releases | New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

New Mexico Historic Sites announces new deputy director

June 16th, 2022

Santa Fe, NM – New Mexico Historic Sites (NMHS), a division of New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA), is delighted to announce that Matthew Barbour has been promoted to deputy director of NMHS, effective immediately. Barbour had been serving as the interim deputy director since April, and prior to that was the Regional Manager of Jemez Historic Site (JHS) and Coronado Historic Site (CHS). 

“Mr. Barbour has been indispensable as interim deputy director,” said Patrick Moore, NMHS executive director. “He has brought, and will continue to bring, experience, knowledge, and empathy to the role. He knows our operations inside and out. He understands and shares our mission to deepen the public’s investment in New Mexico’s history. I couldn’t be happier to have him on board.” 

This promotion is the latest chapter in Barbour’s nearly two-decade history with NMDCA. He started with the department in 2002, working with the Office of Archaeological Studies on a number of large-scale archaeological excavation and survey projects in Deming, Santa Fe, and throughout New Mexico. He joined NMHS in 2013 to serve as Manager of JHS. In 2016, he was promoted to Regional Manager for both JHS and CHS. During his time as regional manager, he cultivated relationships with the Indigenous communities in the areas surrounding both historic sites, ensuring that NMHS navigated their joint conversations with understanding and grace. 

“I enjoy sharing my love of history with the public,” Barbour said. “New Mexico has some amazing Historic Sites. It is an honor every day to work towards their continued interpretation and preservation.” 

Barbour is a committed anthropologist in his work with NMDCA as well as in his personal life. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology in 2002, a Master of Arts in Anthropology in 2010, and has published more than 200 nonfiction articles and monographs on the archaeology and history of the American Southwest. In 2012, and again in 2014, Barbour was awarded the City of Santa Fe Heritage Preservation Award for Excellence in Archaeology. Under his leadership, CHS received an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History in 2018. JHS received the Archaeology Heritage Preservation Award from New Mexico Historic Preservation Division in 2019. Barbour also currently serves as President of the Archaeological Society of New Mexico.  

At his home in Bernalillo, Barbour raises heritage turkeys, and enjoys hunting and fishing.  

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Matthew Barbour

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