Erosion at Sites Below Glen Canyon Dam Studied, Texas Ranger Remains Controversy

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

- Utah State University and Zuni Cultural Resource Enterprise Receive Grant for Study of Erosion of Sites Below Glen Canyon: Utah State University's luminescence geochronology laboratory is helping archaeologists and geologists study ancient sites threatened by erosion by the Colorado River. Last month, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded $2.3 million to study archaeological sites below Glen Canyon Dam, including at least one that may have been in danger of further erosion during the recent high-flow experiment.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695260362,00.html

- Controversy over the Treatment of Human Remains at Texas Ranger Museum: An archaeological firm that was fired from a job excavating human bones at the city’s Texas Ranger museum expansion site is claiming the city has mismanaged the project. The city this week terminated a $437,000 contract with American Archaeology Group to relocate human remains from the site, a former burial ground. Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum director Byron Johnson said the city chose to “part ways” with the firm over differences of opinion about the archaeological process, but he said he can’t say much more because the firm has threatened a lawsuit.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/jhk - Waco Tribune Herald

- Damage to Tempe Petroglyphs Repaired: Tempe residents may be relieved that Native American petroglyphs threatened by an alleged University of Arizona prank are safe, but many are annoyed that at least $10,000 of their tax dollars were spent keeping them that way. This week the work to save the glyphs is considered virtually complete, allowing the city to arrive at an estimate of the final price tag. Workers have spent more than a year removing spray paint from "A" Mountain after a prank stemming from a football rivalry.
http://www.asuwebdevil.com/issues/2008/03/07/news/704106

- Archaeological Law Enforcement Class Offered: While this class is aimed primarily at federal and state land management and wildlife law enforcement officers, it would also be useful to county and local officers, particularly those who patrol outside town or execute search and arrest warrants for narcotics and property crimes. Because of
the value of artifacts and fossils on the black market, meth users and burglars often spend considerable time looting these items from private, state and federal lands with the intention of selling or trading them for profit. These items are likely to be found in yards or mixed amongst other stolen property or drug paraphernalia at target houses. In fact, any time an officer is in someone's house, there is a good chance of seeing artifacts or fossils.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/ale.jpg