Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mount Taylor Designated One of Eleven Endangered Historic Places By National Trust

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

- National Trust for Historic Preservation Names it's Eleven Most Endangered Places for 2009, Mount Taylor Found to Be Endangered: Mount Taylor is a peak of nearly 12,000 feet in the San Mateo Mountains between Albuquerque and Gallup. Many American Indian tribes view the mountain as a sacred place, and the National Trust believes it is endangered because of uranium-mining efforts in the area.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/699k - National Trust for Historic Preservation
http://www.cdarc.org/page/e8up - New Mexico Business Weekly
http://www.cdarc.org/page/8w8w - USA Today

- Related Story - New Mexico Cultural Properties Review Committee (CPRC) to Review Mount Taylor Traditional Cultural Property Designation: The CPRC will convene a regular meeting for the purpose of general business and public comment on the Mt. Taylor Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) nomination, as submitted, on Friday, May 15, 2009. The meeting is scheduled from 9:30 AM - 5:00PM in the House Chambers of the State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Formal action on whether to place the Mt. Taylor TCP on the State Register of Cultural Properties will not take place at this meeting. The CPRC intends to consider the Mt. Taylor TCP nomination as an action item at its June 5, 2009 regular meeting. The nomination of the Mt. Taylor TCP, as submitted, will be posted on the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) website beginning Friday, April 24, 2009 at: www.nmhistoricpreservation.org. Hard copies or compact disc containing the nomination are available for a nominal fee, plus postage, by calling HPD, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at (505) 827-6320, or by emailing HPDplanning.program@state.nm.us. Persons desiring to provide public comment regarding the nomination of the Mt. Taylor TCP may appear in person at the May 15, 2009 CPRC meeting or may submit written comments no later than 5:00 PM, May 20, 2009, to: Historic Preservation Division, 407 Galisteo Street, Room 236, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501 or by email to: HPDplanning.program@state.nm.us.

- O'odham and other Native American Artifacts Stolen from Coolidge Museum: Numerous irreplaceable artifacts are missing after the Coolidge Historical Museum was broken into recently. With more than 100 years of memorabilia on display, intruders entered the museum and took an estimated $50,000 worth of antiques.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/fbav - Tri Valley Central

- Genetic Data on Ancient American Populations Points to Single Ancestral Group: For two decades, researchers have been using a growing volume of genetic data to debate whether ancestors of Native Americans emigrated to the New World in one wave or successive waves, or from one ancestral Asian population or a number of different populations. Now, after painstakingly comparing DNA samples from people in dozens of modern-day Native American and Eurasian groups, an international team of scientists thinks it can put the matter to rest: virtually without exception, the new evidence supports the single ancestral population theory.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090428223836.htm

- Rock Art Conservation Workshop Added to Arizona Preservation Conference: A workshop on rock art graffiti damage and other preservation challenges has been scheduled in conjunction with the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference in Phoenix this June. Thursday Morning, June 18, 2009, 9:00 am – 11:45 am. Fee: $40 per person. The workshop will be held in the Hyatt Hotel, Curtis Room A. Workshop organizer Claire Dean has a graduate degree in archaeological conservation from the University of Durham, England, and is the founder of Dean and Associates Conservation Services, a well respected consulting firm that has worked for the past 15 years with various government agencies on conserving rock art and other archaeological materials throughout the Western United States. Ms. Dean will present a workshop on acceptable and unacceptable conservation strategies for preserving rock art and outdoor objects.
You may register for the workshop fee, which is separate from the conference registration, through the conference website.
http://azpreservation.com/agenda.aspx.

- Artist Gerald Dawavendewa to Speak at Smoki Museum in Prescott: The Smoki Museum will present Gerald Dawavendewa, children’s book author and illustrator, as the featured guest artist and Sundays at the Smoki guest speaker for the month for May. He will be demonstrating and selling his art work Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the museum and will provide a lecture on his work Sunday, May 17 from 1 – 2 p.m. in the pueblo.
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/living/artsandentertainment/44011587.html

- New Book Examines Ancient and Recent History of the Prescott Valley: "Prescott Valley has a very rich history. It began about 10 million years ago when Glassford Hill erupted, and then about 10,000 years ago, mammoth grazed this valley," Cross said, citing hikers, who in 1984, discovered bones and tusks sticking out of the bank of the Agua Fria Wash. "Prehistoric people found the area to their liking since there was water, vegetation, pronghorn deer and plenty of food in the area."
http://www.dcourier.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=67572

- Texas Archaeological Society Field School Scheduled for June 13-20: Field School in the Panhandle of Texas, near Perryton. TAS will hold its field school for training in survey, excavation and lab. Sites will include prehistoric Indian, a historic tribal
settlement and a US Army Depot.
http://www.txarch.org/

- Lecture Opportunity (Santa Fe): On May 4th Southwest Seminars presents Dr. John Kantner who will speak on " Fact & Fiction of Cannibalism in the Early Puebloan Southwet.t" Lecture presented as part of the Ancient Sites, Ancient Stories 2009 lecture program. Monday Evening, April 27 At 6 Pm At Hotel Santa Fe. This event is offered as a benefit for the Archaeological Conservancy.

Thanks to Adrianne Rankin for contributions to today's newsletter.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Navajo National Monument Symposium, Early Agriculture Archaeology Cafe

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

- Symposium on 100 Years of Research at Navajo National Monument to be Held at NAU: A Free Event, Tuesday, May 19, 2009, from 8:45 am to 3:30 p.m, in the Cline Library Assembly Hall, Northern Arizona University Campus. The Symposium will be held as part of a Celebration of the Navajo National Monument Centennial (1909-2009).
http:www.cdarc.org/sat/nnm_symposium.pdf

- This Month's Archaeology Cafe Will Present Amazing Evidence About the Early Agricultural Period from the Site of Las Capas: Tuesday, May 5th at 6:00 PM, at Casa Vicente, 375 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ The Center for Desert Archaeology invites you to the eighth meeting of Archaeology Café, a casual, happy hour-style discussion forum dedicated to promoting community engagement with cultural and scientific research. This month, a panel led by archaeologist Jim Vint and geoarchaeologist Fred Nials will share up-to-the-minute information from ongoing excavations at the site of Las Capas along the Santa Cruz River. Investigations by Tucson-based Desert Archaeology, Inc. are revealing complex agricultural irrigation systems that date back 3,000 years! The remarkably well-preserved fields even retain evidence of planting holes for maize and other crops. The project was recently featured in a segment on KUAT’s nightly newsmagazine, Arizona Illustrated. Free and open to the community—all are welcome. Participants are encouraged to support our hosts at Casa Vicente by purchasing their own food and drinks.
http://www.cdarc.org/pages/articles.php?req=read&article_id=763


- Related Story: You can view the informative Arizona Illustrated segment by Christopher Conover at the following link.
http://ondemand.azpm.org/videoshorts/watch/2009/3/19/kuat-archaeologists/


- Video on Excavations at Antler House Village Available Online: The Arizona Department of Transportation has released a short movie titled "The Antler House Village" documenting EcoPlan's archaeological excavations at the Cordes Junction Traffic Interchange. The video can be viewed on-line at EcoPlan's website.
http://www.ecoplanaz.com.

- Navajo Nation Appeals to The Obama Administration to Attempt to Protect San Francisco Peaks: The Navajo Nation Council has given its approval for the Nation’s attorneys and leaders to meet with the Obama administration in hopes of working out a settlement to protect the sacred San Francisco Peaks from desecration. The Nation is seeking an expedited meeting prior to May 8, when the U.S. Solicitor General’s response brief is due to the U.S. Supreme Court.
http://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/04April/042709tribeslook.html

- 2009 Four Corners Indian Art Festival This Saturday At Edge Of The Cedars State Park Museum, Blanding, Utah: Be sure to mark your calendar for the fourth Annual 2009 Four Corners Iindian Art Festival, May 2nd at the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, Blanding, Utah. This year’s All-native festival offers something for everyone! Come to the festival and help us celebrate with traditional and contemporary dances and music all weekend, juried art competition and awards, silent auction, taste-tempting traditional food, demonstrations, and children’s activities.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/4_corners_festival.doc - MS Word Document

- Felipe Solis Olguin, Director of Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology, Passes at 64: Archaeologist Felipe Solis Olguin, director of the National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) since year 2000, passed away in Thursday April 23rd 2009, due to cardiac arrest. At the time of his decease he was working as a curator in the exhibition “Teotihuacan, City of Gods”. Felipe Solis was born in Mexico City in 1944, and was part of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) since 1972. As field archaeologist, he contributed to discover the history of Mexico City ancient cultures; he was present in 1975, when the Chapultepec Aqueduct was explored, and in 1978, in the Coyolxauhqui monolith salvage, being him the was who recognized the figure of the Moon deity.
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=30490

- Utah Archaeology Week Develops Archaeological Interpretation for Pre-Teens: When your own personal history only stretches back eight or 10 years, it can be quite mind-boggling to think about what happened thousands of years ago. Yet, Assistant Utah State Archaeologist Ron Rood says, this age can be a perfect time to start learning about the far-distant past. That's why Utah's annual celebration of Prehistory Week, which this year runs from May 2-9, offers a lot of activities just for youngsters, he says. The week kicks off with an open house at the Rio Grande Depot on Saturday, featuring hands-on activities for kids (and adults, too), including spear and atlatl throwing, corn grinding, craft demonstrations, tours of the archaeology lab, a chance to make your own rock art, Navajo tacos and more.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705299831,00.html

- Second Navajo Casino Planned for RT 66 Landmark: The Navajo Nation is planning to open a $200 million casino, spa and hotel complex 20 miles east of Flagstaff at Twin Arrows, if pending traffic and utility studies show no major roadblocks. Construction could begin as soon as next year, said Bob Winter, chief executive officer of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise. The facility would have a conference center and would be aimed at some of the 14 million drivers traveling yearly along Interstate 40, residents of Flagstaff, and international tourists visiting the Southwest.
http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/04/26/news/20090426_front_195214.txt

- Field School Annoucement (NAU): Learn about excavation, surveying, and cultural resource management in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument north of the Grand Canyon. June 1 - July 10, 2009. The field school will be based at the headquarters of the Two Mile Ranch in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument north of the Grand Canyon. Students will learn about surveying, excavation, mapping, artifact analysis, and cultural resource management.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/nau_field_school_2009.pdf

- Travelogue - A Trip to the V Bar V Petroglyphs (Verde Valley): Was it Thursday or Friday? After six days of wandering the back roads in central Arizona, who knew? Thomas and I had heard about an unusual petroglyph site somewhere near Verde Valley and we had set aside April 3 to explore it at the historic V Bar V Ranch. I pulled out the information we found on the Internet. It said the area was open to the public Friday through Monday. But what day was it? We started out that morning in Cottonwood and headed east to Interstate 17, going north to Beaver Creek Recreation Area. On a quiet stretch of road over still-green hills from recent rain, it dawned on me: With our usual daily anchors of work, the networks and the rush to the weekend, it's easy to keep track of our days.
http://www.chicoer.com/lifestyle/ci_12230835

Thanks to Dan Garcia, Steve Hayden, and Sarah Page for contributions to Today's Newsletter.

Friday, April 24, 2009

The Antiquities Trade, Archaeological Monitoring

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

- New York Review of Books Examines the Works of James Cuno - How Art, the Antiquities Trade, Nationalism, and Cultural Heritage Intersect at Museums: The stark reality facing art museums today is that the era of large-scale collecting of antiquities has come to a close. In the United States, the situation is further complicated by the dependency of large museums on wealthy private donors and patrons, whose contributions have often related to their own interests as collectors. Now that museums have adopted rules that prevent the acquisition of many ancient objects still in private hands, they must find other ways of retaining that support.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22657

- Unexpected Finding on Ebay and The Antiquities Market from Archaeology Magazine: Our greatest fear was that the Internet would democratize antiquities trafficking and lead to widespread looting. This seemed a logical outcome of a system in which anyone could open up an eBay site and sell artifacts dug up by locals anywhere in the world. We feared that an unorganized but massive looting campaign was about to begin, with everything from potsherds to pieces of the Great Wall on the auction block for a few dollars. But a very curious thing has happened. It appears that electronic buying and selling has actually hurt the antiquities trade. How is it possible? The short answer is that many of the primary "producers" of the objects have shifted from looting sites to faking antiquities.
http://www.archaeology.org/0905/etc/insider.html

- Native American Monitors Police Archaeological Practice Near San Diego: With each new project built around San Diego, more artifacts and remains of Native Americans will be uncovered, necessitating the services of archaeological "monitors" such as Carmen Lucas and Clint Linton. A Kwaaymii Indian, Lucas has worked closely with the Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation Committee (KCRC) for the past decade overseeing development projects. It's her job to ensure any physical or cultural remains discovered are treated properly, expeditiously and reverentially.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/3sir - The La Jolla Light

- Apache Peoples Mark the Anniversary of the Camp Grant Massacre: This April 30 will mark the 138th year since the Camp Grant Massacre of the Arivaipa Apaches along Arivaipa Creek that flows into the San Pedro River. The site is about fifty miles north of Tucson and around 12 miles from the southwestern border of the present San Carlos Apache tribal area. It was in the year of 1871 and it was tragedy too often seen in Southwestern history. Still, it was a pivotal event and one of the major reasons for the forming of the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
http://www.silverbelt.com/articles/2009/04/23/apache_moccasin/apache05.txt

- Archaic Era Deposits Found in Southern Texas: UTSA Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) researchers are examining artifacts they recently discovered that date from 3700 B.C. to 600 A.D. The artifacts were discovered during a three-month dig at Miraflores Park, east of Brackenridge Park.
http://www.utsa.edu/today/2009/04/carartifacts.cfm

- Sourcing Maya Blue: The ancient Maya civilization used a rare type of clay called "palygorskite" to produce Maya blue. Combining structural, morphological and geochemical methods, Spanish researchers have defined the features of palygorskite clay on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. These findings will make it possible to ascertain the origin of the materials used to produce this pigment, which survives both time and chemical and environmental elements.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090420085049.htm

- Stimulus Money Assists Curation at Hopewell: A $2 million federal stimulus grant might bring Ohio closer to solving one of its great prehistoric mysteries: the Hopewell Culture. Money from the U.S. Department of the Interior will be used to build a curatorial facility at the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park at Chillicothe. Rick Perkins, acting superintendent and chief ranger at Hopewell, said the money will pay for a new facility for 150,000 artifacts, most of which are now stored underground. Trails and expanded parking are not included.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/1wml - The Columbus Dispatch

- Lecture Opportunity (Santa Fe): On April 27 Southwest Seminars presents Dr. Jeffrey Dean's "Environment or Conflict: Tsegi Phase Transformation of the Kayenta Anasazi, A.D. 1250-1300" as part of the Ancient Sites, Ancient Stories 2009 lecture program. Monday Evening, April 27 At 6 Pm At Hotel Santa Fe. Offered As A Benefit For The Archaeological Conservancy.

Thanks to Adrianne Rankin for contributions to today's newsletter.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Registration for 2009 Pecos Conference Now Open

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

- Registration for 2009 Pecos Conference and Pecos Conference Website Now Open: The 2009 Pecos Archaeological Conference will be held August 6-9 in Cortez and Dolores, Colorado. Information and registration are now available on the web at the link below. The Thursday night reception will be held at the Cortez Cultural Center, the host of this year's conference. Papers, book sales, poster sessions, and camping will be at the McPhee Campground in Dolores. Additional activities at this year's conference will include the raising of a large, heavy stone object using prehistoric technology under Vince Lee's direction, and a Friday night presentation by author Craig Childs on the issue of looting of archaeological sites, the topic of his next book. This year's dinner will be an on-site pig roast, and, thanks to the richness of the Four Corner's archaeological resources, there are many field trips to chose from on Sunday. Early registration ends on June 30. The web site is a "work in progress", but the essential information is there and on-line registration has begun. Come join your colleagues for another fun and informative conference.
http://pecos.cortezculturalcenter.org/

- Website Promoting Heritage Tourism Offers Detailed Information on Travel in the Mesa Verde Region: Southwest Colorado's towns of Cortez, Dolores, Mancos and Towaoc embrace the archaeological center of America, anchored by world-renowned Mesa Verde National Park. Just a short drive from the Four Corners Monument, Arches, and Monument Valley, Mesa Verde Country is centrally located on two National Scenic Byways—The San Juan Skyway and Trail of the Ancients. Whether your passion is exploring the past, enjoying spectacular wide open vistas, or hiking rugged canyon or mountain trails, you're guaranteed the vacation of a lifetime in Mesa Verde Country.
http://www.mesaverdecountry.com/

- Submerged Fort on the Pecos River Evidence of a Little Known Colonial Conflict: Real Alencaster, alarmed at the prospect of (an Anglo) invasion, at once took steps to hallenge it, as he informed his superiors in Chihuahua, writing, "I mean to prevent the entry into this province of New Mexico of any substantial party of Anglo-American troops." As a first step, he dispatched eastward a scouting unit of eight soldiers, 30 citizens' militia and Pueblo Indians, all under command of Lt. Nicolás Almansa. The men carried orders to establish an outpost on the lower Conchas River, astride a main trail from the east. Then they were instructed to go on scouting missions to search for signs of an invading American army.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/2hh3 - Santa Fe New Mexican

- Islamic Art and Archaeology to Be Featured At El Paso Archaeology Museum Event: Please join us at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology for a presentation and book signing by Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir, on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 12:00 PM. Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir was born in Tunisia and obtained her M.A. (with distinction in 1986) and her Ph.D. (1990) in Islamic Art History and Archaeology from London University. She was a post Doctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and has lectured world wide on Islamic Art and Islamic Culture. She has taught Islamic art in the British Museum has been a museum consultant and most recently was the Founding Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar. This event is free to the public. Seating is limited and is first come, first served. For more information and to RSVP please call (915) 755-4332.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/vwi - Newspaper Tree, El Paso

- Ice Age Exhibits Open in Southern California: The Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology rises like an Aztec palace on the landscape, its shimmering glass and steel towers standing in contrast to the suburban sameness in this southern Riverside County exurb. Inside the $30 million, 33,000-square-foot museum is a 230,000-year-old Ice Age world of bones to explore, cleverly assembled for the enjoyment of youngsters and amateur archaeologists.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/fz1a - Signs on San Diego

- National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Find Redevelopment Plans for San Francisco's Presidio Deeply Flawed: The National Park Service has weighed in on the proposed changes to the center of San Francisco's Presidio, warning that the potential combination of new buildings and an altered landscape "threatens the historic character and integrity of the Main Post."
http://www.cdarc.org/page/5fqh - San Francisco Gate

- 2009 Archaeology Channel Film Festival Preview Now Online: The sixth annual installment of The Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival will take place May 19-23, 2009. This event, which includes a keynote address by the chief archaeologist of Egypt, Dr. Zahi Hawass, is highlighted in TAC Festival 2009 Preview, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel.
http://www.archaeologychannel.org

Thursday, April 16, 2009

University of Arizona Press Receives Major Funding for Research in Digital Archaeological Publishing

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

- University of Arizona Press Awarded Second Grant to Further the Digital Publishing of Archaeological Research: The University of Arizona Press has received its second grant in 2009 from the distinguished Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This $282,000 one-year planning grant has been given to the University of Arizona Press, along with five other university presses, to collaboratively develop a digital collection of New World archaeology scholarship. The University of Arizona Press, the University of Alabama Press, the University Press of Colorado, the University Press of Florida, the Texas A&M University Press, and the University of Utah Press will jointly explore ways to deliver data- and illustration-rich digital editions of cutting-edge archaeological research. The project, called the Archaeology of the Americas Digital Monograph Initiative, will give scholars and professional archaeologists the ability to review supplemental data not often contained in conventionally published volumes.
http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/news/MellonArchaeology.php

- Archaeological Deposits Indicate Site of Mexican Surrender in War for Texan Independence: Archaeologists believe they've found the spot where hundreds of Mexican soldiers surrendered to the Texas army after a battle that sealed Texas' independence from Mexico 173 years ago. Unfired musket balls, bayonets and cavalry ornaments were found in rows in an area about 20 yards (meters) wide and 200 yards (meters) long near a power plant about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Houston.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/dhra - Earthlink News

- Ceramicist Who Shared Native Ceramic Arts With Public Passes In Scottsdale: Susan Peterson, a ceramics artist, educator and writer who revealed the lives and techniques of Native American women potters of the Southwest to a broader American audience, has died. She was 83. Peterson died March 26 at her home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after a long illness, her family said.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/i5wz - La Times

- Rock Climbers Vs. Archaeological Preservation at Hueco Tanks: For elite "boulderers", Hueco Tanks compares only to the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris and the Cederberg Wilderness Area in the Western Cape of South Africa. Among the rock formations here, climbers have identified more than 1,600 bouldering routes, or problems, ranked on a scale of difficulty. An annual tournament known as the Hueco Rock Rodeo draws scores of competitors to scale problems called, among the less obscene names, Jiffy Pop, Screw Driver and Julio and Me. But the arrival of legions of climbers has provoked a deep reckoning on the site’s archaeological, natural and spiritual legacies. Forged from magma when this place was a seabed, the rock formations developed their distinctive huecos, or hollows, through the weathering of millennia. They formed natural retaining pools to capture the summer rains, nurturing such desert oddities as cottonwoods, willows and seasonal freshwater shrimp. Nomadic hunter-gatherers made regular stops. In the 12th century, the Jornada Mogollon people began farming the site, leaving behind pictographs that depict masked faces, animals and deities. Kiowa, Mescalero Apache and Tigua tribes also left their mark.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/sports/othersports/14boulder.html

- Native Arts Celebrated at Heard Museum: The 51st Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market took place March 7 – 8. “The fair celebrates the rich, creative traditions of American Indian artistry and also embraces the best of their newest art. The museum’s goal to build understanding of and appreciation for the best contemporary American Indian art manifests itself throughout the market,” read the welcome message from Frank H. Goodyear Jr., director of the Heard Museum and Ann Gorton, president of the Heard Museum Guild.
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/42813872.html

- There is Still Time to Register for Next Week's Preservation Planning Workshop in Prescott: Historic property managers are often encouraged to complete a “Master Plan.” What is the purpose of such a plan? What are the issues addressed in such a plan? Who produces a plan? How much does a plan cost? These are the topics to be covered a pre-convention workshop developed by the Arizona History Convention advisors and the State Historic Preservation Office.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/az-pres-workshop.doc

- Arizona History Convention Scheduled for April 23-26: The 50th Annual Arizona History Convention will be held at the Hassayampa Inn, Prescott, April 23-26. There will be sessions on a variety of Arizona history topics, as well as award ceremonies, and valuable (and reasonably priced) workshops. For conference information call Nancy Stonehouse or Bruce Dinges at (520) 628-5774. Or, visit our website:
http://www.arizonahistory.org

- Travelogue - Utah's Grand Staircase & Escalante National Monument: IF the name Dry Fork Coyote Gulch doesn’t give fair warning that this is not your average hike, then the haunting drive to the trailhead will remove all doubt. The sandy Hole-in-the-Rock Road is one of the few routes that even attempt to enter the biblical expanse of desert in southern Utah called the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and when I made a pilgrimage there last summer, I didn’t pass a single car, let alone a sign of human habitation.
http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/travel/12outback.html

- Archaeological Internship Available at Grand Canyon National Park: The Gene Polk Science Internship Program – Archeology, Summer 2009 at the Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim and North Rim). Offered by the Division of Science and Resource Management: Archeology Program The Grand Canyon Association (GCA) is currently accepting applications for an exciting internship program in support of the National Park Service (NPS) at Grand Canyon National Park. Projects will be supervised by resource managers from a variety of disciplines within the Division of Science and Resource Management. Successful applicants will have an opportunity to gain professional experience, develop working relationships with NPS resource managers, and contribute to the preservation and protection of the Grand Canyon, one of America’s iconic national treasures. Funds supporting this program were contributed to honor Gene Polk, a long time supporter of conservation.
http://www.cdarc.org/2009_gc_archeology_internship.doc - MS Word Document

- Lecture Opportunity (Tucson): Tonight (April 16th) as Part of Old Pueblo Archaeology's Third Thursday Lecture Series, Archaeologist Matthew Pailes will present "The Role of Cerros de Trincheras Sites in the Hohokam World," This program is free to the public, and will be held at the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, 2201 W. 44th Street, Tucson (in Tucson Unified School District's Ajo Service Center, just west of La Cholla Blvd., ½-mile north of John F. Kennedy Park). 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free.

- Lecture Opportunity (Tucson): Carolyn O'Bagy Davis will present "Hopi Summer: Letters from First Mesa." Letters and photographs give insight to Hopi life before change came to the traditional, mesa-top villages. Sponsored by the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society. Free and open to the public. Monday, April 20th, 7:30 pm, DuVal Auditorium, UMC, 1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson. For more information contact 520-721-1012.

- Lecture Opportunity (Santa Fe): As part of the 2009 lecture series, "Ancient Sites, Ancient Stories," Southwest Seminars presents "Coalescence and Collapse in the Southern Southwest" by Dr. Jeffery J. Clark, Preservation Archaeologist, Center for Desert Archaeology. The talk will be held at 6pm on Monday, April 20th at the Hotel Santa Fe. This lecture is presented as a benefit for the Archaeological Conservancy.

- Tour Opportunity With Pima Community College and Old Pueblo Archaeology: June 2009 Southwestern New Mexico Archaeological Sites Tour, Friday June 19-Tuesday June 23, 2009. Reservation deadline Friday April 18. "Mimbres Ruins, Rock Art, and Museums of Southern New Mexico" (ST585) Pima Community College study tour (CRN 72084 Double Occupancy, CRN 72085 Single Occupancy) with archaeologist Allen Dart via passenger van departing from Pima Community College, 401 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson 3 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Tuesday. $759 Double Occupancy, $799 Single Occupancy. Registered Professional Archaeologist Allen Dart leads this comprehensive tour to southwestern New Mexico's Silver City area to visit Classic Mimbres pueblo ruins, Early Mogollon village archaeological sites, the Gila Cliff Dwellings, spectacular petroglyph sites, and a museum with one of the world's finest collections of Mimbres Puebloan pottery (the kind with those spectacular human and animal figures). Tour includes transportation, lodging and entry fees. Offered by Pima Community College in affiliation with Old Pueblo Archaeology Center. Advance reservations required: 520-206-6468 (Pima Community College, Tucson).

- Book Sale This Weekend at the Arizona State Museum: Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, 2009 the "Very Nearly Annual Discount Benefit Booksale", will be held from 10 am-4 pm on both days. Save 40-70% on UA Press remainders and first-quality NEW books: visual arts, humanities, poetry, ethnology, Southwest studies, world archaeology, anthropology, cooking, lifestyle, architecture, and children's books. ASM members admitted one hour early on Friday for best selection.

- Employment Opportunity (Washington DC): The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Native American Program has a job opening for a program assistant.
http://www.achp.gov/docs/NAP%20Asst%20Apr09.pdf

Thanks to Cherie Freeman, Brian Kenny, Gerald Keslo, and Vince Murray for contributions to today's newsletter.

Friday, April 10, 2009

NMSU Students Excavating Near Santa Teresa Pueblo - Tucson Presidio Living History

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

- NMSU Archaeological Fieldwork Near Santa Teresa Pueblo After taking Bill Walker's native ceramics anthropology class, New Mexico State University students should be able to recognize and identify a variety of pottery from the region. They should also be able to endure a bee sting or several. About 10 students spend one afternoon per week mapping, digging and excavating a site behind the Tyson Chicken factory in Santa Teresa. Through this course, students are exposed to a great deal of "Indiana Jones-type" moments, from digging in the dirt with archaeological tools to being chased away by swarms of bees.
http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_12094144

- Living History at Tucson's Presidio Park: Soldiers will march and cannons will roar this weekend in downtown Tucson. Living-history volunteers will re-create daily life at the Tucson Presidio (or El Presidio Real de San Agustín del Tucson, if you want to be formal), dressing as residents might have when the garrison was established in the latter half of the 18th century - the men in Spanish military uniforms and the women in period clothing. "The volunteers are there to answer any questions people may have," said Eryn Kirkpatrick, a Tucson city staff member with the presidio. "Some stay in character and pretend to be living here in 1775. It really does transport you back to a different time and place."
http://www.cdarc.org/page/6nt1 - Arizona Republic

- Reminder: Early Registration Deadline for Arizona Preservation Partnership Conference is April 15th.
http://www.azpreservation.com

- Travelogue - Trail of the Ancients: As Americans start to plan summer vacations, many are looking to combine fun, scenery, outdoor adventure and education - all in interesting destinations that fit the budget. They may be pleasantly surprised to find it all in on one of the country's newest national byways, in a part of Colorado that sports few crowds, stunning vistas and the most archaeologically dense area in the United States.
http://tinyurl.com/bnepjt - Yahoo News

- Sea Level Changes Impacting Archaeological Sites: Perched on the edge of this wind-swept Southern California island, archaeologist Jon Erlandson watches helplessly as 6,600 years of human culture — and a good chunk of his career — is swallowed by the Pacific surf. It was not long ago that this tip of land on the northwest coast cradling an ancient Chumash Indian village stretched out to sea. But years of storm surge and roiling waves have taken a toll. The tipping point came last year when a huge piece broke off, drowning remnants of discarded abalone, mussel and other shellfish that held clues to an ancient human diet.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30014339/

- Hieroglyph Canyon Makes a Fine Day Hike Near Phoenix: There are so many great places to hike in the Phoenix area. How about the Hieroglyphic Canyon Trail? You'll enjoy the views. One sunny and slightly windy day we headed east from Phoenix to the beautiful Superstition Mountains. Leaving the freeway we wound our way through beautiful home sites to the Lost Gold Mine Trail trailhead. While the kids in our group hoped to find a real lost gold stash, we were a bit more realistic and looked forward to the views and the sight of springs where ancient Hohokam Indians left evidence of their lives many years ago.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/9ykq - Examiner.Com

Monday, April 6, 2009

Old Hubble Trading Post Building Converted to Winslow Heritage Center - Lecture Opportunities

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

- Winslow's Hubble Trading Post Sees New Use as Regional Heritage Center: As part of Winslow’s self-proclaimed Renaissance, the city is reviving many of its historic areas to allow visitors and residents to learn more about the region’s dynamic past from the days of Indian trading to cruising Route 66. As part of that resurgence, the Winslow Chamber of Commerce has relocated into the renovated historic Hubbell Trading Post, and is dividing the space into a visitor’s center and a museum display that the chamber plans depict the city’s heritage. The theme and the items to be displayed in the 2,500 square foot area have been subjects of discussion for group of local citizens assigned with the task of using that area to best represent what the history of the region encompasses.
http://www.azjournal.com/news/126/ARTICLE/3717/2009-04-03.html

- Home Depot Foundation Supports Renovation of Mesa's Park of the Canals: "I think it will be the rebirth of the park," said Bert Millett, a leader in efforts to restore the Park of Canals. The park, which features displays and historic remnants of ancient Hohokam canals, at one time drew visitors from throughout the city. However it started to decline and acquire a bad reputation among residents when the city removed wooden playground equipment that was falling apart and dangerous to use, but couldn't replace it because of financial problems.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/03/20090403mr-parks0403.html

- Lecture Opportunity (Tubac): "Human-Mammoth Associations in the San Pedro Valley: Why So Many?" Topic for the Tubac/SCC AAS Program April 9th. According to archaeologist Jesse Ballenger, the San Pedro Valley in Southern Arizona contains four mammoth kill sites between Sierra Vista and Naco-the densest concentration of mammoth kill sites known to science. Ballenger will explore this phenomenon from methodological, ecological, and geological perspectives during his talk, "Human-Mammoth Associations in the San Pedro Valley: Why So Many?" The event is being hosted by the Tubac/SCC AAS Chapter on Thursday, April 9, beginning at 6 p.m. at the
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park in Old Town Tubac.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/tubac_aas.doc - MS Word Document

- Lecture Opportunity Tonight in Santa Fe: Southwest Seminars Presents the 2009 Ancient Sites, Ancient Stories program, benefiting the Archaeological Conservancy. Tonight's lecture will be presented by Dr. Dennis Jenkins, Senior Research Associate, Oregon State Museum. "Evidence for Pre-Clovis Human Occupations in Paisley Cave, Northern Great Basin" will be presented at 6:00 pm at the Hotel Santa Fe.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Clovis News, Archaeology Cafe in Tucson, V-Bar-V Ranch Petroglyphs

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

- Interpretations of Colorado Clovis Cache Continue to Evolve: In the University of Colorado press release, Yohe says the discovery of the protein residue caused the investigators to change their minds about the purpose of the cache. Initially, they suspected it was a ritual deposit, but because some of the tools had been used, they decided it was a utilitarian cache. According to Bamforth, some ancient hunter buried the items, "fully expecting to come back at a later date and retrieve them." It's certainly possible that the artifacts represent this kind of cache, but I think it's premature to discard the idea that the artifacts are the remains of an Ice Age ceremony.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/6dwk - Columbus Dispatch

- Did Anthrax Impact Clovis Populations? Humans were dying of anthrax in North America much earlier than thought - perhaps after scavenging the remains of infected animals while migrating from Asia during the Ice Age-a new study says. "We've
always thought that anthrax was an Old World disease that was brought to the New World by Europeans" around 1500, said study coauthor Paul Keim of Northern Arizona University. But the new report suggests that ancient humans entering the continent thousands of years earlier imported the disease after crossing the Bering land bridge, which once connected present-day Alaska and eastern Siberia.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/fken - National Geographic News

- Archaeology Cafe - Tucson's Neon Legacy: The Center for Desert Archaeology and Casa Vicente invite you to the seventh meeting of Archaeology Café, a casual, happy hour-style discussion forum dedicated to promoting community engagement with cultural and scientific research. The next Archaeology Café will convene on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. This month, consultant Demion Clinco discusses the historic events that led to the local development and demise of U.S. Highway Route 80, the remnant of which is better known to Tucsonans as "Miracle Mile." This historically significant, all-weather, coast-to-coast auto route was among the first U.S. highways commissioned in 1926. It stretched from San Diego, California, to Tybee Island just east of Savannah, Georgia--ocean to ocean. In Tucson, it was a thriving commercial corridor up through the mid-20th century. Demion's presentation will be based, in part, upon a historic context study submitted to the City of Tucson Department of Urban Planning and Design as part of the Oracle Area Revitalization Plan. Come settle in with a drink and a plate of delicious tapas at downtown Tucson's own Casa Vicente. We meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.; presentations begin at 6:15 p.m. Our forum opens with a brief, informal presentation, followed by a question and answer period. Moderator Doug Gann then commences spirited but focused discussion.
http://www.cdarc.org/pages/articles.php?req=read&article_id=757

- Arizona's V-Bar-V Ranch is a National Treasure: As you zoom along Interstate 17 north of Camp Verde, you'd probably never guess that one of Arizona's largest, and least known, petroglyph sites lies just a few miles off the freeway. The V-Bar-V Heritage Site, which holds more than 1,000 petroglyphs, is the largest-known petroglyph site in the Verde Valley and one of the best preserved in the state.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/01/20090401vbarv0403.html

- Native Scholarships Available at Crow Canyon: Full scholarships are available for American Indian students who attend the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center’s summer archaeology camps or field school in Cortez, Colo. These programs offer opportunities for students to learn about the cultural chronology of the Four Corners area, participate in archaeological field and laboratory work and visit archaeological sites. Any American Indian student from any tribe in the United States can apply.
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/plains/42283787.html

- Historic Documents Workshop to be Held in Conjunction with Arizona History Conference: Please join the Friends of Arizona Archives (FAzA) for an archives workshop that will be held in conjunction with the Arizona History Convention in Prescott, Arizona. The Preserving Photographs and Documents workshop is on Thursday, April 23, 2009. Registration for the workshop is now taking place. The deadline for registration is April 14. The Pre-conference Workshop "Preserving Photographs and Documents" will take place Thursday, April 23, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (with a lunch break) Sharlot Hall Museum Library & Archives. Registration deadline: April 14. Cost: $25 for FAzA members; $35 for non-members. Make checks payable and mail to: Friends of Arizona Archives, P.O. Box 64532, Phoenix, AZ 85082-4532. For information, contact Doug Kupel, FAzA President, (602) 380-9900; or e-mail faza.events@gmail.com

- Casa Grande Neighborhood Declared Historic District: After several years of work, Casa Grande's Evergreen Historic District has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. That makes many homeowners in the district eligible to apply for property tax breaks of 35 to 45 percent, depending upon whether the home has kept its original appearance, the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office said.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/fn0l - Tri Valley Central

- Bay Area Native Americans Strike Back Against "Burning Men" and the Commodification of Native Cultures: There was supposed to be a "private" Burner party last Saturday night at the Bordello in Oakland, complete with three hundred guests, twenty DJs spinning thumping techno and bass, dancers, a fashion show, micro-massages, raw food, an absinthe bar, and coconuts. Instead, the event ended in tears. More than fifty Bay Area Native American rights activists converged on the historic East Oakland property at 9:30 p.m. to ensure the shutdown of popular Burning Man group Visionary Village's "Go Native!" party. The fired-up Hopis, Kiowas and other tribal members spent more than four hours lecturing the handful of white, college-class Burners about cultural sensitivity until some of them simply broke down crying.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/h2o0 - East Bay Express

- Oral History Project Preserves the Stories of Camp Navajo: Stories of Native American workers at Camp Navajo, Ariz., will be a part of the site's historical record forever. Camp Navajo Garrison Training Center and the Arizona Army National Guard (ARNG) have a richer understanding of their own history thanks to the Camp Navajo Cultural Resources Management Program oral history project. The oral history project began as an effort to mitigate range development impacts on Indian Village, established for the native American crews who helped construct the installation in the 1940s. It included documenting the experiences and history of the Native Americans who helped build Camp Navajo. More than 200 individuals with connections to Native American workers participated in the oral history project.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cultural-Resources-Effort-prnews-14806279.html

- The Story of the Ancestors of Modern Puebloan Peoples Featured on the Archaeology Channel: Ancestral Puebloan people in Colorado and Utah developed a remarkable culture and agricultural adaptation before moving their settlements southward centuries ago. For the past hundred years, archaeologists and Native people have collaborated to paint the picture and tell the story of the vibrant culture that once thrived here. The Anasazi Heritage Center of the Bureau of Land Management produced this film to share that story. This compelling story is the subject of The Cultural Heritage of the Great Sage Plain, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel.
http://www.archaeologychannel.org

- Reminder, Deadline Approaching for Nominations for Arizona Awards in Public Archaeology: - The Arizona Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission's 2009 awards can be presented to individuals, organizations, and/or programs that have significantly contributed to the protection and preservation of, and education about, Arizona's non-renewable archaeological resources. These awards can include the following categories of individuals or organizations that are worthy of recognition for their public service/education endeavors: 1) professional archaeologists, 2) avocational archaeologists, 3) Site Stewards, 4) Tribes, 5) private, non-profit entities, 6) government agencies, and 7) private or industrial development entities. In addition, the Commission would like to make an award to an individual for special or lifetime achievement. (Specific criteria must be met in order for a nominee to qualify for a given award category -- these criteria are spelled out on the Call for Nominations.) The deadline is April 14, 2009, so we hope to get your nomination soon!
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/09_gaac_award.pdf

Thanks to Terry Colvin for contributions to today's newsletter.