Puebloan Textile Moving to Telluride (?) 2008 SCA Meetings in Albuquerque, Lots of Lectures & Classes

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

- Ancient Puebloan Blanket to Moved Back to Telluride: The Telluride Blanket, approximately 800 years old and the most perfect example of Anasazi weaving in existence, will soon make its permanent home at the Telluride Historical Museum. The blanket, which likely was woven just before the time of the early Pueblos, is invaluable, said Winston Hurst, publisher of Blue Mountain Shadows historical magazine in Blanding, Utah, near where the blanket was found.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/e37y - Grand Junction Sentinel

- Society for Commercial Archaeology's 2008 Conference in Albuquerque: SCA is holding its next conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 11-14, 2008. Prospective speakers are encouraged to submit abstracts on topics relating to automobile culture in the American Southwest including historic roads (the Old Spanish Trail, the Ozark Trail system, and Route 66), tourist facilities (restaurants, gas stations and motels), and tourism sites. However, any abstracts on topics generally related to the 20th century commercial landscape are welcome. The SCA is also co-sponsor of the Preserving the Historic Road conference that will concurrently take place in Albuquerque. The four-day conference includes educational sessions and field tours. For more information, including presentation proposal guidelines, see
http://www.sca-roadside.org

- First Planning Meeting for Arizona Archaeology Expo set for Friday October 19th, in Tucson: Please come and share your ideas as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) initiates planning for the 2008 Arizona Archaeology Expo that will be held on March 1-2, 2008 at the Arizona State Museum, the University of Arizona in Tucson. We will be touring the Museum grounds and exchanging ideas with the various partners; discussing programming, publicity, lay out and organization, sponsors, funding, off-site activities, etc. Parking - There are two parking structures just west of campus and ASM (one to two blocks away). One is just south of University Blvd., off of Euclid Ave.; the other is at Second and Euclid, across from the Marriott Hotel. It is unclear at this time if coupons will be available to waive the parking fee (between $4-$7). Carpool and have fun visiting on the way!

- Talk on Navajo and Apache Ancestral Origins to scheduled for Old Pueblo Archaeology's Third Thursday Lecture Series (Tucson): "The Earliest Ancestors of Navajo and Apache in the Southwest" with archaeologist Dr. Ronald H. Towner. The Navajo and Apache are the only Athapaskan-speaking peoples in the Southwest. They are surrounded by Puebloans and Uto-Aztecan speakers such as the O'odham, Pai, and Yuman peoples, so how and when the Athapaskans entered the Southwest is one of the enduring questions of American anthropology and archaeology. This presentation discusses various theories and presents new archaeological data from early Navajo sites in the northern Southwest relevant to this issue. The results suggest a complex process that led to the development of distinct Athapaskan enclaves in the Southwest. October 18, 2007 - 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center Auditorium, 5100 W. Ina Road Bldg. 8

- Class on Traditional Stone Tool Making (Tucson): Old Pueblo Archaeology's hands-on arrowhead-making and flintknapping workshop with Sam Greenleaf will be held at the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center workshop, 5100 W. Ina Road Bldg. 8, In this 3-hour, hands-on workshop, flintknapper Sam Greenleaf teaches how to make Arrowheads and spear points out of obsidian and other stones, to provide hands-on experience and knowledge of how prehistoric people made and used stone artifacts. All necessary equipment is provided. Class is designed to help modern people understand how prehistoric Native Americans made and used artifacts, and is not intended to train students how to make artwork for sale. Class limited to 8 registrants age 16 and older. Classes held October 13, 2007, November 17, 2007 and December 15, 2007. Noon to 3 p.m. for each date. $25; $20 for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary members.

- Free Class on the Archaeology of Utah (Salt Lake City): How long have humans lived in Utah? When did people start farming and growing corn? Why did the Anasazi abandon their homes in southern Utah? What is archaeology? What can be learned from the study of ancient skeletons or pottery or broken stone tools? Why are archaeological resources important? These are just some of the questions to be explored in a free one-day class on the archaeology of Utah. Offered on October 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rio Grande Depot, this class will introduce the concept of archaeology and the prehistoric cultures of Utah. We’ll also discuss some ongoing projects in the Salt Lake area and around the state of Utah. The class is free and open to the public. Young people 4th grade and up may attend if accompanied by an adult. However, space is limited. Participants must pre-register by sending an e-mail to rrood@utah.gov with “October Class” in the subject line, or by calling Assistant State Archaeologist Ron Rood at 801/533-3564. The class is sponsored by State History’s Antiquities Section and the Utah Statewide Archaeological Society.

- Fundraising Dinner at the Tucson Presidio: The Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation held a fundraiser Sunday in the newly reconstructed Presidio San Agustín del Tucson. About 60 people attended "Walk the Wall" Progressive Dinner. A few dressed up in costumes from the Spanish colonial period from 1775 to 1821. The funds raised will go towards educational projects that tell the stories of the people who lived in the Presidio and the history and impact it had on the establishment of Tucson, said Susan Smith of the Tucson Presidio Trust.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/65162.php

- Reminder, Old Pueblo Archaeology's "Art For Archaeology III" Fundraiser will be held Friday October 19, 2007, at The Mountain Oyster Club, 6400 E. El Dorado Circle, Tucson. Advance reservations required by October 12: 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org. For questions about the event please visit Old Pueblo Archaeology Center's http://www.oldpueblo.org/auction.html and http://www.oldpueblo.org/art.html web site pages, or contact Cynthia Cobb at 520-297-7707 or Carolyn O'Bagy Davis at 520-622-8957.

Thanks to Allen Dart and Brian Kenny for Contributions to Today's Newsletter.