Southwestern Archaeology Today for August 9 , 2007

Southwestern Archaeology Making the News - A Service of the Center for Desert Archaeology

- New Exhibits on Chaco Canyon Open in Grants NM: Artists, anthropologists, National Park representatives and a film crew mingled at the opening of the “Celebrating Chaco” show at the Double Six Gallery Saturday. One of the most fascinating exhibits was a scale model of Pueblo Bonito with an interpretation of the designs, sizes and positions of the great kivas. Casa Rinconada, which was built between 900 and 1200 A.D., is depicted in detail. The models were provided by the park staff, led by Chief of Interpretation Russ Bodner.
http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2007/08/06/news/news7.txt

- Arizona State Museum To Expand into Downtown Tucson: The City Council on Monday formally acknowledged that $130 million in city Rio Nuevo funds will be dedicated to building the University of Arizona Science Center and adjoining Arizona State Museum.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/59444.php

-Thirteenth Century Climatic Change: The authors review and discuss possible impacts of early-11th-, middle-12th-, and late-13th-century droughts on three Native American cultures that occupied parts of the western United States (Anasazi, Fremont, Lovelock) plus another culture that occupied parts of southwestern Illinois (Cahokia).
http://www.cdarc.org/page/fikl - CO2 Science

-Tucson Anniversary Celebration Lectures at the Tucson Origins Presidio Park: Thursday, Aug 9., 6:30 p.m. “The Santa Cruz River and Environs: Past and Present,” by Gayle Hartmann. This talk will discuss the ever- changing Santa Cruz River, how it has changed in the past, why it has changed, and how these changes have affected the people who live here. Thursday, Aug. 16, 6:30 p.m. “4,000 Years of Tucson’s History at the Mission San Agustín,” by Irma Moreno. Recent archaeological excavations have revealed that small farming settlements were present near the base of “A” Mountain along the Santa Cruz River 4,000 years ago. This talk will discuss the results of excavations at the Mission San Agustin and Mission Gardens that help fill in the gaps of Tucson’s early history.

- Lecture on the Role and Status of Women in the Colonial Southwest (Tucson): Thursday August 16, 2007, "Archaeological Evidence of Women on the Spanish Colonial Frontier" by Rebecca Waugh, Ph.D. [Rescheduled from July 19.] On the Spanish colonial frontier in what is now Arizona, many different people made their lives at towns, presidios, ranchos, and other settlements. The archaeological record at these historical sites helps us understand how different segments of society, like women, may have contributed to the culture, and this record enriches understanding of how colonial Spanish society developed on the frontier. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center's monthly "Third Thursdays" guest speaker presentations are held on the third Thursday of every month from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center Auditorium, 5100 W. Ina Road Bldg. 8.

- What is Archaeology, a New Video on the Archaeology Channel: Sometimes it helps to ask why we do what we do. And those of us who've been around for a while can benefit from a fresh perspective, such as you will see in What Is Archaeology?, With scenes from 2006 fieldwork in central Washington state and an original musical accompaniment, archaeologist Faith Haney offers her personal interpretation of archaeology. Haney created this video as a Career Day exhibit for Middle School students and in the process captured key insights about the values and purposes of archaeology. Although not intended to represent archaeology in all its worldwide manifestations or to speak for archaeologists everywhere, this video gives valid answers to some often-asked questions.
http://www.archaeologychannel.org/