Presevation Debate in Tempe, Navajos Recall Chaco Canyon Evictions, Preservation Vs Rock Climbing at Cave Rock

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

- Preservation Debate in Tempe Takes and Encapsulating Twist: The owner of Monti’s La Casa Vieja restaurant — a steakhouse located in Maricopa County’s oldest occupied structure, built in 1873 at today’s Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway has seen his customer base slowly diminishing in recent years. In the spring he agreed to sell his property to Scottsdale-based 3W Cos, but the old adobe originally built by Tempe founder Charles Trumbull Hayden as his residence, would be preserved and continue to be a restaurant. The Tribune’s Garin Groff reported on Wednesday 3W’s preliminary designs for its structure, which took by surprise many longtime Tempeans. It calls for one of two high-rise towers, a 24-story building, to be built over the adobe restaurant. To many, and to us at first blush, this plan didn’t give the impression of maintaining a historic structure.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/96438
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/96102

- Navajo Commemoration Ceremony Recalls Evictions from Chaco Canyon: The canyon would eventually become the place Martinez would call home. At least until she was 8 years old. Though it was more than 70 years ago, she can recall the day her grandfather and grandmother, Tashniah, were told they were going to be evicted from the canyon. She can still remember the devastation it brought upon her grandfather.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/kdp - Gallup Independent

- Ninth Circuit Court Rules in Favor of Preservation for Cave Rock, a Sacred Washoe Site in Nevada. The Access Fund argues that because there is no significant geological impact on Cave Rock from rock climbing, it is inconsistent to conclude that climbing harms the physical resource. The Access Fund’s argument misses the point. The value of Cave Rock is not simply geological; it is also cultural and historical. As documented in extensive research and consultation with various community groups, rock climbing harms the physical (not necessarily geological) integrity of the rock.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/cave_rock_ruling.pdf

- Texas Archaeological Society's 2007 Annual Meeting. The Texas Archeological Society (TAS) meets October 26-28, 2007 at the Menger Hotel, 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio. Join archeologists to relate the results of your recent archeological investigations. Short talks, poster displays, and exhibits will relate intriguing details of the archeological work. Professionals from around the state will meet on Friday at the Council for Texas Archeologists.
http://www.txarch.org

- Marist College In Tucson on Arizona's Most Endangered Buildings List: The crumbling adobe Marist College building in downtown Tucson is one of 16 properties statewide to make the Arizona's Most Endangered Historic Places list, the Arizona Preservation Foundation announced Thursday. The 1916 three-story structure on the grounds of St. Augustine Cathedral is the tallest adobe structure in southern Arizona, but monsoon storms in recent years have torn away part of the the northwest corner and weakened the other corners.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/61693.php
http://www.azmostendangered2007.blogspot.com

- Gila Cliff Dwellings Change Hours: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Superintendent Steve Riley announced today the change to winter hours, effective September 3rd. The trailhead to the dwellings will be open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. All visitors must exit the trail by 5:00 pm. The Gila Visitor Center will be open daily from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1st). Guided tours of the dwellings will continue to be held at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm until further notice. Please allow 20-30 minutes to hike to the first cave where the tour begins.
http://www.nps.gov/gicl

Thanks to Brian Kenny for contributions to this issue of Southwestern Archaeology Today.