Tuesday, July 27, 2010

New Study to Examine Social and Political Contexts of Hohokam Ceramic Production

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

New Study to Examine Social and Political Contexts of Hohokam Ceramic Production
Can a manufacturing industry purr along without a class system of managers and workers? That's part of a longtime mystery that may soon be solved: How did a prehistoric, egalitarian people called the Hohokam produce large quantities of decorated ceramic vessels without a "manager" hierarchy?
http://www.physorg.com/news198857381.html

Genetic "Reconstruction" Indicates High Degree of Diversity in Origins of New World Paleolithic Populations
Anthropologist have believed for a while that humans migrated to the Americas in a relatively short period from a limited area in northeast Asia across a temporary land corridor that opened across the Bering Strait during an ice age. However, government archeologist Alejandro Terrazas says the picture has become complicated because the reconstruction resembles people from southeastern Asian areas like Indonesia. "History isn't that simple," Terrazas told the Associated Press (AP). "This indicates that the Americas were populated by several migratory movements, not just one or two waves from northern Asia across the Bering Strait."
http://tinyurl.com/3ybmoc9 - Red Orbit

Audit Finds Fault With NAGPRA Administrators
But the first official audit of the government agency that administers NAGPRA portrays a troubled organization that has failed to serve tribes well, and does not always give a fair hearing to scientists' claims. The final report, from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), is expected by autumn, but Nature has obtained a draft that is currently under review. Both the GAO and the NAGPRA office in Washington DC declined to comment on the draft.
Warning - the following link contains an image of human remains of unknown archaeological provenance.
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466422a.html

New BYU Exhibit Examines Ancient Life in Utah
A new exhibit at Brigham Young University’s Museum of Peoples and Cultures brings into focus the efforts to preserve and study these sites and the thousands of artifacts they have yielded. Beneath Your Feet: Discovering the Archaeology of Utah Valley conveys the story of the Fremont. These pre-Columbian Indians, who populated much of Utah due to their farming prowess, coaxed crops from arid soils from 400 AD until the record of their occupation fades away in the 13th century.
http://tinyurl.com/2vfjy3b - Salt Lake Tribune

Excavations Provide Glimpse of Life in Old Town San Diego
the four-year effort led by San Diego State University professor Seth W. Mallios has turned up more than 60,000 artifacts from the well behind the house, and more from two other locations on the property. “It’s this great timeline of the way life was lived here from the 1940s back to the 1850s,” said Mallios, whose youthful enthusiasm complements his sterling credentials.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/21/peek-old-town-lore/

Archaeo-Nevada Society Starts Fall Season September 9th
Archaeo-Nevada Society a 501c3 organization begins its' fall season September 9,2010 at 7 pm on the College of Southern Nevada campus. Mark Boatwright BLM archaeologist about archaeological activities in the Redrock Canyon National Recreation Area. The Society meets September through May on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm at the College of Southern Nevada W. Charleston campus. Speakers are local archaeologists and historians from Nevada. Memberships include an informative monthly newsletter. The Society was formed in 1962 its' goal is the education about and protection of Nevada's past. The society has established a archaeology/anthropology scholarship at CSN to aid students. For information about membership or donations to the scholarship fund contact Bruce Holloway at bholloway9@cox.net

The Santa Fe Railyard Park Wins National Park Service Award of Merit in Site Design
Public, private and international design firms from more than 20 states and five countries vied for honors in the inaugural Designing the Parks competition. Entries had to engage people, expand beyond traditional boundaries and demonstrate reverence for place, sustainability, informed decision-making and an integrated development process. The National Park Service’s Denver Service Center, in partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, recognized outstanding examples of park design in four categories: master planning, site design, building design and historic preservation.
http://tinyurl.com/234sywc - Designing the Parks Awards (PDF)

Kick Off Planning Meeting for the 2011 Arizona Archaeology And Heritage Awareness Month
Monday, August 23, 2010 at 10:00 a.m, at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Arizona State Parks, 1300 W. Washington, Phoenix, in the Basement Boardroom. Please come and share your ideas as the SHPO initiates planning for the 2011 Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month (AAHAM) celebration. We will be deciding on a theme for the month, identifying our partners, discussing the 2011 Arizona Archaeology Expo (to be held at the Deer Valley Rock Art Center, Phoenix, Arizona), and exchanging ideas for the promotion of this important educational program within our state. For More Information, Please Contact: Ann Howard, Public Archaeology Programs Manager, SHPO, 602/542-7138, avh2@azstateparks.gov

Publication Announcement - Ceramic Makers' Marks
Left Coast Press Announces the publication of Erica Gibson's Ceramic Makers' Marks, available for pre-order before the October 2010 release date. Erica Gibson’s comprehensive guide provides a much-needed catalogue of ceramic makers' marks of British, French, German, and American origin found in North American archaeological sites. Consisting of nearly 350 marks from 112 different manufacturers from the mid-19th through early 20th century, this catalog provides full information on both the history of the mark and its variants, as well as details about the manufacturer. A set of indexes allow for searches by manufacturer, location, mark elements, and common words used. This guide will be of interest not only to historical archaeologists, but material culture specialists, collectors, museum professionals, students, art historians, and others interested in ceramics. Coming October 2010, 256 pages, $24.95 Paper.
http://lcoastpress.com/book.php?id=315

Reminder and Link Update - TAS Annual Meeting Planned for Oct 22-24
Early registration continues through October 7 ($89 hotel reservations, too). This is also the end date for requesting a Banquet ticket or a table in the Exhibit Room. PDF and online forms for Texas Archeological Society Annual Meeting and Exhibit Room registrations are now available through the TAS website.
http://www.txarch.org/Activities/AnnualMeeting/am2010/index.php

A note of congratulations to the residents of the Indian Ridge Historic District in Tucson for their inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The properties were added to the register on July 16th, 2010.

Thanks to Carrie Gregory and Gerald Kelso for contributing to today's newsletter.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Huhugam Ki Musuem Shares Dual Perspectives on Hohokam and Huhugam

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

Huhugam Ki Museum Shares Dual Perspectives on Hohokam and Huhugam
The museum serves a dual function, according to Pacer Reina, an assistant there. Not only is it a source of information about the Hohokam to the world at large, it's an important cultural resource for the nearly 9,000 members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, on the east side of the Valley. The Pima believe they are descended from the Huhugam, which is becoming the preferred transliteration (although Hohokam is still widely used). The museum helps the community's children understand their heritage, Reina said.
http://tinyurl.com/337apvj - Arizona Republic

Acting Superintendent Opens Mesa Verde to Back-Country Tours
“The resources are fabulous,” he says, “and the staff is very good, which makes my job easier. Mesa Verde National Park is in a great part of the country.” Nelligan is excited about the new Visitor and Research Center currently under construction which will house the park’s collection of over 4,000,000 artifacts in a state of the art facility. Under his leadership, three new backcountry tours are open to Mug House, Spring House and Wetherill Mesa, and in conjunction with the Mesa Verde Foundation, prominent artists recently had a day to paint plein aire style at Long House.
http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/acting_superintendent_opens_up

12th Annual National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Training Meeting Scheduled
On Monday, August 9, 2010, NATHPO is offering a pre-conference, NAGPRA-related training session this year, "Using 43 CFR 10.11 to Return 'Culturally Unidentifiable' Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects." This one-day training will focus on the new regulatory section finalized on May 14, 2010, that requires the return of "culturally unidentifiable" Native American remains to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. This training session is a follow-up to last year's workshop, "Using the Culturally Unidentifiable Native American Inventories Database." This important database includes listings and information on over 124,000 individual Native Americans and almost one million associated funerary objects. If you are attending the entire annual meeting, this one-day training is included in your registration fee. If you only want to attend the one-day training, there will be a $100 registration fee.
http://www.nathpo.org/PDF/NATHPO2010workshop.pdf

Mesa Arizona Has Tremendous Potential for Historic Preservation
Former Mesa Mayor Don Strauch smiles when he drives past his childhood home, the Fuller-Strauch house, about once a month. For Strauch, 84, viewing the Mission Revival house built in 1906 in Mesa's West Second Street Historic District is a way to stay in touch with his roots in the Valley's largely rootless society. It brings back memories of his long-deceased family members and reminds him of nights he spent as a boy on the sleeping porch in a bed that hung from chains.
http://tinyurl.com/2arzufs - Arizona Republic

Echos of the Old West at Nevada's Hamilton Ghost Town
Time was when Hamilton's streets bustled. The largest of several camps spawned by rich horn silver discoveries on Treasure Hill in 1867, Hamilton served a district population of about 30,000 miners and the usual hopefuls and riffraff lured by boom-towns. Today, Hamilton's scatter of ruins rising spectrally from the sagebrush and pinyons lure only those seeking glimpses of the Old West.
http://tinyurl.com/24rdgpb - Las Vegas Journal

Lecture Opportunity (Durango)
Crow Canyon research archaeologist Susan Ryan will give a talk at 7 p.m. July 23 at the center, 23390 Road K in Cortez. Ryan will discuss the ancestral Puebloan communities in the central Mesa Verde region that remained occupied despite severe drought in 12th century.
http://www.crowcanyon.org

Lecture Opportunity (Tucson)
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society Presents Linda Mayro and Roger Anyon speaking on "Preserving the Past for the Benefit of Future Generations: Accomplishments of the Pima County Historic Preservation Bond" Tonight, Monday, July 19 at 7:30 pm in the DuVal Auditorium at the University Medical Center, 1501 N Campbell Ave.
http://tinyurl.com/2723djk - Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society

Employment Opportunity
Currently this is just a heads up, but we will be posting an announcement on USA JOBS shortly for a GS9/11 archaeologist in the Moab Field Office. The applicant must have 4 months experience in the region. Contact Leigh Grench, Archaeologist with the BLM - Moab Field Office at 435-259-2114 for more information.


Thanks to Gerald Kelso for contributing to today's newsletter.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Another Light Sentence in 4-Corners Artifact Case

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

Another Light Sentence in 4-Corners Artifact Case
Nicholas K. Laws has maintained he never collected ancient American Indian artifacts for sale, but when he was offered money by a federal informant the father of three desperately needed it. "For my client, this was not a living," Laws' attorney, Randy S. Ludlow, said in federal court Monday. "He was never doing it to make a fast buck."
http://tinyurl.com/263o2ef - Washington Examiner

Documentary Project "Postcards from the Parks" Looks to Resuscitate Arizona State Park System
Due to budget cuts enacted by the Arizona State Legislature and signed by Governor Jan Brewer, the state's park system is on the verge of complete collapse. A documentary film project entitled "Postcards from the Parks," created by four friends who visited all of the parks over a six-month period, details the problems our state parks face and
how it effects us all.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/postcards.doc - MS Word Document

Hopi Government Renews Pledge to Stop Snowmaking on San Francisco Peaks
The Hopi Tribe's legislative body voted unanimously Thursday to use any remaining legal avenues to stop snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl, the tribe's leader said Friday. "Ultimately and straightforwardly, we're just opposed to any snowmaking at all," said Chairman Le Roy Shingoitewa.
http://www.azdailysun.com/news/local/31987aeb-5ac7-5af2-888b-0ad50d48e1dc.html

Extinction of Woolly Mammoth, Saber-Toothed Cat May Have Been Caused by Human Predation
New analysis of the extinction of woolly mammoths and other large mammals more than 10,000 years ago suggests that they may have fallen victim to the same type of "trophic cascade" of ecosystem disruption that scientists say is being caused today by the global decline of predators such as wolves, cougars, and sharks.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100701072732.htm

Hips Don't Lie: Researchers Find More Accurate Technique to Determine Sex of Skeletal Remains
Research from North Carolina State University offers a new means of determining the sex of skeletal human remains -- an advance that may have significant impacts in the wake of disasters, the studying of ancient remains and the criminal justice system.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706112601.htm

Viejas Ceremonial Sanctified Burial Site to be Protected ‘In Perpetuity’
California Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a lawsuit June 24 against a water district which continued construction on a site that has been determined to be sacred to the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and should be permanently protected.
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/southwest/97664204.html

Excavation Tour Opportunity (Tucson)
EcoPlan Associates, Inc. is conducting data recovery excavations at several archaeological sites on the Santa Cruz floodplain, in Tucson, along Interstate 10 between Prince and Ruthrauff Roads in advance of Arizona Department of Transportation road widening and reconstruction of the Prince Road traffic interchange. Thus far, excavations have revealed extensive Early Agricultural occupation of the area, as well as both later Hohokam (Rillito/Rincon) and earlier Middle Archaic components. Please join EcoPlan archaeologists for a tour of the project area and a summary of our findings on Wednesday July 21, 2010 at 7 am. The tour will meet at the intersection of Prince Road and Business Center Drive, west of I-10 (Exit 254). On-street parking is available. Please note that hard hats and reflective safety vests are REQUIRED of all visitors. Please bring your own. Carpooling is encouraged. Please contact Dan Garcia (480 733 6666 x105 or dgarcia@ecoplanaz.com) with any questions.

Mesa Verde Region and Crow Canyon to Share Pueblo Cultures Via Preserve America Grant
Mesa Verde Country will give its Indian Arts and Culture Festival a boost and translate its website into languages around the world with a Preserve America grant. "It's helping us to go global," said Mesa Verde Country Tourism Director Lynn Dyer. The $89,822 grant has been a long time coming, Dyer said. Mesa Verde Country applied for it in conjunction with Crow Canyon Archaeology Center in 2007, but payments were delayed because of the economy.
http://tinyurl.com/2uut4le - Durango Herald

Call For Papers For 81st Texas Archeological Society Annual Meeting
October 22-24, 2010 Omni Bayfront Hotel, Corpus Christi, Texas (361) 887-1600 TAS code:1450 0809 629 The Conference theme is Archeology without Borders.
You’re invited to join friends and colleagues for the 81th annual meeting of TAS. We hope to encourage colleagues south of the Rio Grande to attend and share their research with us. Papers and posters will be featured in sessions Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. The Public Forum and Career Social will attract regional visitors. Meetings and awards will honor many who have contributed to the Society and Texas archeology.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/tas_cfp_10.doc - MS Word Document

Rock Art Scholar Returns To The Anasazi Heritage Center
Sally Cole, author and rock art expert, will give a talk and slide show at the Anasazi Heritage Center at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 8. Cole will give her presentation on the human form in rock art, which was canceled last June due to technical difficulties. Admission will be free throughout the day. Cole is the author of "Legacy on Stone: Rock Art of the Colorado Plateau and Four Corners Region." Her book is considered the best regional rock art reference currently in print.
http:// www.blm.co.gov/ahc

Lecture Opportunity - Tucson
The monthly Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society lecture will be given by Roger Anyon and Linda Mayro. The topic is Preserving the Past for Future Generations: Accomplishments of the Pima County Historic Preservation Bond Program. Monday, July 19th, 7:30 pm. DuVal Auditorium, UMC, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Free and open to the public.

Position Announcement - Assistant Curator of Archaeology
The University of Arizona, Arizona State Museum (ASM), invites applications for an Assistant Curator of Archaeology (Mandated Programs Administrator) with tenure-equivalent status. The position serves as the ASM Director's designee to administer Arizona Revised Statute §§41-841 et seq. and ARS §41-865 through ABOR Chapter VIII ASM Rules. The incumbent is expected to collaborate across a wide range of state, county, municipal, and federal agencies on issues related to the implementation of the Arizona Antiquities Act and the protection of the state's archaeological resources.
http://www.cdarc.org.sat/asm_cofa_info.pdf

Thanks to Vincent Murray and Adrianne Rankin for contributions to today's newsletter.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Clovis News - Atlatls, Linguistic Evidence, and Mitochondrial DNA

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

Melting Glacier Reveals Clovis Era Atlatl Dart

Global warming is turning out to be a savior for archaeologists like Craig Lee from the University of Colorado at Boulder, who are finding ancient relics in recently melted ice patches. Lee's lucky strike is the oldest known atlatl dart, an early wooden spear-like hunting weapon, in the Rocky Mountains.
http://tinyurl.com/atlatl1 - Discovery News

New Linguistic Studies Illuminate Migrations Across Bearing Sea Land Bridge
Research illuminating an ancient language connection between Asia and North America supports archaeological and genetic evidence that a Bering Strait land bridge once connected North America with Asia, and the discovery is being endorsed by a growing list of scholars in the field of linguistics and other sciences. The work of Western Washington University linguistics professor Edward Vajda with the isolated Ket people of Central Siberia is revealing more and more examples of an ancient language connection with the language family of Na-Dene, which includes Tlingit, Gwich'in, Dena'ina, Koyukon, Navajo, Carrier, Hupa, Apache and about 45 other languages.
http://tinyurl.com/2vq982e - Seattle Times

North America's First Peoples More Genetically Diverse Than Thought, Mitochondrial Genome Analysis Reveals
ScienceDaily (June 29, 2010) — The initial peopling of North America from Asia occurred approximately 15,000-18,000 years ago. However, estimations of the genetic diversity of the first settlers have remained inaccurate. In a report published online in Genome Research, researchers have found that the diversity of the first Americans has been significantly underestimated, underscoring the importance of comprehensive sampling for accurate analysis of Mitochondrial DNA.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100628170926.htm

Reminder - Join the Center for Desert Archaeology on July 8th for a Special Presentation with an International Perspective on Heritage Preservation
The Center for Desert Archaeology and the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation invite you to a special evening with Center member and distinguished guest Ian George, who will share an overview of England’s Inherited Landscape. Mr. George serves as Inspector of Ancient Monuments for English Heritage in the West Midlands. His presentation will take us on a journey through time to some of the most treasured features of England’s historic landscape. English Heritage is a national organization whose purpose resonates with that of the Center—championing special places, advising the government, sharing heritage widely now, and protecting it for the future. The program will be held in the Copper Hall of Tucson’s own landmark, the historic Hotel Congress. Admission is free. Guests are welcome to mingle and enjoy a no-host bar before and after the presentation, which will begin at 6:00 p.m.
http://www.cdarc.org/2010/06/18/special-evening-englands-inherited-landscape-2/

Mesa Verde Plans for Building of New Visitor's Center
Mesa Verde National Park officials are making plans for a September groundbreaking ceremony for the new visitors center and curatorial facility. The park took the first step toward construction of the multimillion dollar project at a pre-bid meeting last week
http://tinyurl.com/35f2xgj - Durango Herald

Exploring History and Identity in the Old West
Was Kit Carson hero or villain? Or both? The answer would seem to be a foregone conclusion for a predominantly-Navajo audience, among whom the famous “Indian fighter” is often remembered for his role in the Long Walk of 1864, when thousands left their fertile homeland on a forced march to the bleak Bosque Redondo.
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/97164039.html

New Mexico Archaeology Camp Provides Teens with Archaeological Education
A homestead site dating to around 1918 was recently discovered west of Hobbs and provided a perfect opportunity for Smith to allow youth interested in archeology to help excavate the site. The week-long Junior Archeology Camp had seven students. They learned the techniques to excavate the site during two days of classroom training and excavated portions of the site.
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/education/hobbs-teens-dig-archaeology-camps

The Story of Prescott's Infamous Smoki
Like most legends, the story of the Smoki People is a combination of fact, fiction, rumor and speculation. "I always thought we were honoring the Native Americans," Prescott resident and bank employee Irene Winter said.
http://tinyurl.com/36kq8tw - Part I - Prescott Dailt Courier
http://tinyurl.com/33a7xx5 - Part II - Prescott Daily Courier

Tour Opportunities from the Archaeological Conservancy
The Archaeological Conservancy still has space available on three of its fall tours:
"Best of the Southwest" September 18 - 28, 2010. Experience the cultural and scenic diversity of the American Southwest. Our trip explores Native American cultures, both past and present, in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. "Effigy Mounds of the Upper Mississippi Valley, September 25 - 29, 2010. In what is now Wisconsin, prehistoric Native Americans constructed about 20,000 earthen mounds, more than in any other area of comparable size. We will visit the best surviving example of these fascinating constructions, with an emphasis on the sites of the Effigy Mound culture which created mounds in the shapes of mammals, birds and reptiles. "Oaxaca" October 29 - November 8, 2010. Join us during one of the most unusual festivals anywhere, Day of the Dead. On this day, people prepare home altars and cemeteries to welcome the dead, who are believed to return to enjoy the food and drink they indulged in during life. For more information you may request a tour brochure at (505) 266-1540 or visit the link below.
www.archaeologicalconservancy.org/tour.html

Historic Archaeology of the Great Lakes Region on the Archaeology Channel
The early history of the North American colonial frontier takes on more meaning when archaeologists recover direct evidence left behind at key sites. The search for such evidence can be very trying and may require both persistence and endurance, as demonstrated by In Search of Fort St. Joseph, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel.
http://www.archaeologychannel.org

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