More on Loot and Looting in Arizona

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

- Loot and Looting in Arizona: The underworld was brought to light on June 10, when federal agents busted 23 people who allegedly looted archaeological sites in the Four Corners region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Ranking among the largest crackdowns ever against the black market in Native American antiquities, the sting drew praise from archaeologists—and outrage from rural Four Corners communities where artifact collecting is a traditional pastime, and sentiment against the federal government runs high.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/collector-crackdown/Content?oid=1344991

- The Myth of Sierra Azul: Sierra Azul is first mentioned in a memorial of Diego de Penalosa, governor general of New Mexico from 1661 to 1664. as written by his aide de camp, Dominquez de Mendoza. Little is known of the author. Penalosa was a notorious liar. Mendoza's account tells of Penalosa's well-planned expedition to "Sierro del Azul, the ores of which have been assayed and are known to be rich in gold and silver." However, according to Mendoza, Penalosa never made the trip, due to Apache wars and other obstacles. Mendoza mentions neither his source of the information on Sierra Azul or its location.
http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=32707

- Lecture Opportunity (Albuquerque) Open and Free to Public a Lecture on: Virtual Reality in Archaeology and Public Education, Monday, September 21, 4:00-5:00pm University of New Mexico, Hibben Center, Room 105 (Auditorium). Dr. Maurizio Forte, Professor of World Heritage at UC Merced and Director of the Virtual Heritage Museum in Rome, will give a lecture on using 3D, geospatial technologies (GIS, GPS, and remote sensing), and CAD to reconstruct ancient landscapes that serve as the basis for VR environments that students, internet users, and museum visitors can interactively explore. The interdisciplinary nature of Dr. Forte's work speaks to archaeologists, art historians, architects, educators, geographers, and others. The event is sponsored by the Anthropology Graduate Student Union, Department of Art History, and the Alfonso Ortiz Center of Intercultural Studies at UNM.

- Lecture Opportunity (Tucson): Tonight, September 17, as part of Old Pueblo Archaeology Center's "Third Thursdays" a free presentation of "Mesoamerica and Hohokam Symbolism, Public Architecture, and Ideology" with archaeologist Dr. Paul R. Fish at 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): Monday, Sept 21st, 7:30 pm Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society presents "Zeckendorfs and Steinfelds: Merchant Princes of the Southwest" by Bettina Lyons. DuVal Auditorium, 1501 N Campbell Ave., Tucson. Free and open to the public. For more information 520-907-0884.