David Keller is an archeologist, historian, and historic preservationist specializing in the Big Bend region of Texas.
He worked for over 20 years at the Center for Big Bend Studies of Sul Ross State University where he supervised archeological surveys of over 35,000 acres in Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, the Davis Mountains Preserve, and private and state lands across the greater Big Bend region.
He is the primary author and editor of the nearly 1,000 page report of archeological investigations at Big Bend National Park and has written three books on regional history—Below the Escondido Rim: A History of the O2 Ranch in the Texas Big Bend, Alpine: Images of America, and the award winning In the Shadow of the Chinatis: A History of Pinto Canyon in the Big Bend. His work on the Porvenir Massacre archeological project, published in the Journal of Conflict Archaeology, revised the long-standing narrative of a massacre of 15 men of Hispanic descent during the Mexican Revolution. He is presently working on a new book on 1920s Big Bend photographer Frank Duncan.
He served as principal investigator on five historic preservation projects including an 1870s Cavalry camp as well as eight historic stone and adobe structures in Big Bend National Park and has been a preservation consultant on private, state, and federal historic properties.
He co-founded the Big Bend Conservation Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to conserving the living heritage and unique natural and cultural resources of the greater Big Bend region. He also co-founded and served as president for the Friends of the Ruidosa Church dedicated to restoring the unique frontier adobe mission known as El Corazon Sagrado de la Iglesia de Jesus.
He resides in a 130 year old adobe house in Alpine’s historic Pueblo Viejo.