Southwestern Archaeologist David Gregory Passes

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

Archaeologist David Gregory Passes
We are sad to report that on the evening of June 13, 2010, David A. Gregory passed away in Show Low, Arizona. Dave had been working from his home in Pinetop for the Center for Desert Archaeology and for Desert Archaeology, Inc. He had experienced a series of health complications in recent years, but he had always battled his way back from the brink.
Dave’s remarkable skills as a field archaeologist, his intelligence, and his broad mastery of the archaeological literature were applied with his signature intensity throughout his career. Mike Jacobs noted: “I have admired immensely his work, not only at Las Colinas, but especially his more recent work on Archaic and Early Agricultural Period sites here in Tucson and on the Zuni Origins book with Dave Wilcox. His collected body of work includes some really significant contributions that will stand as a tribute to him for years to come.” And Doug Craig summed things up in a grand, straightforward way: “I consider Dave to have been one of the great southwestern archaeologists of our generation.”
In order to continue to expand Dave’s already considerable legacy, the Center for Desert Archaeology has established the David A. Gregory Research Fund—a permanent, endowed fund. Contributions are tax deductible, and may be sent to: Center for Desert Archaeology, 300 North Ash Alley, Tucson, AZ 85701. Plans for a memorial service and celebration of Dave’s remarkable life are not final at this time. They will be announced here and as broadly as possible when they are final.


Archaeologist Gary Yancy Passes
The AAS received the sad news that Gary Yancy passed away on May 28th. He was a stalwart of the AAS, having served as our Chair beginning about 1989 and ending in 2003. He was a mentor, a cheerleader, keeping us supplied with enthusiasm and cheer. He traveled the whole state to visit every chapter.
http://www.azarchsoc.org/

Center for Desert Archaeology President William Doelle Testifies Before Congress on the Potential Benefits of Expanding Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
“The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument preserves the remains of an ancient Hohokam farming community and “Great House,” one of the largest prehistoric structures built in the United States. It is one of our most famous cultural landmarks and is prominent in Akimel O’odham, Tohono O’odham and Hopi oral traditions.”
http://tinyurl.com/cdarc-doelle-cg - Center for Desert Archaeology

Representative Kirkpatrick Argues for Expansion of Casa Grande Ruins National Moument
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick urged a House Natural Resources subcommittee to push forward on her legislation to expand the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in a hearing on that bill held Thursday. Her testimony before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands pointed to the bill’s potential to grow the tourism industry and bring new jobs to the area while protecting a unique Arizona treasure.
http://tinyurl.com/2uafuq3 - Tri Valley Central
See Also http://tinyurl.com/cdarc-kirkpatrick - Center for Desert Archaeology

Stephanie Meeks Named New President of National Trust for Historic Preservation
Stephanie currently serves as president and CEO of Counterpart International, a $110 million development organization operating in 25 countries. She earlier spent 18 years at The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest and most influential conservation organizations in the world where she held a number of leadership positions including chief operating officer and, for nearly a year, acting president and CEO.
http://blogs.nationaltrust.org/preservationnation/?p=10568

BYU Field School Excavating Fremont-Era Village
Named the Wolf Site, after the property owner, this Fremont village site dates to AD 1100. The site is relatively large and contains a mixture of adobe wall square house structures and round pithouse structures as well as adobe lined fire pits, fish and mammal bones, ancient corn, arrow points, arrow shaft straightener, shell beads groundstone, and pottery fragments.
http://tinyurl.com/byu-fremont-village - Examiner.com

Bridge to Gila Cliff Dwellings Now Open to Automobiles
The New Mexico State Department of Transportation staff has reopened the West Fork Bridge to vehicles, which means that visitors will now be able to drive directly to the Cliff Dwellings trailhead. Effective Friday, June 11 entrance fees, which had been waived since the bridge was closed, will resume at $3.00 for individuals over 16 years and $10.00 for families. For further information, please contact the Gila Visitor Center at (575) 536-9461.

Guided Tour of TJ Ruin Scheduled for July 17th
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument will offer a ranger-guided tour of the TJ Site on Saturday, July 17, 2010. Visitors to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument have the unique opportunity to explore the TJ Site, an unexcavated surface pueblo that is usually closed to the public. This free tour of the TJ site will be offered on Saturday, July 17th at 11:00 a.m. and will last approximately 1 ½ hours. The tour is limited to 20 people and reservations should be made in advance by calling the Gila Visitor Center at (575) 536-9461

Santa Clara Man Accidentally Unearths Ancient Human Remains
A man digging in his yard in Santa Clara unearthed a human skull that has been determined by the New Mexico Office of Medical Investigator to be ancient remains. On Friday, a resident of Cleveland Street in Santa Clara was building forms to pour concrete to build an addition to his home when he struck something hard while digging and started to dig it up, OMI Field Deputy Melissa Arzaga said.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_15249768?IADID

A Cooler Pacific May Have Severely Affected Medieval Europe, Southwest North America
June 10, 2010 — A new study has found a connection between La Nina-like sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific and droughts in western Europe and in what later became the southwestern United States.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100609122842.htm
http://tinyurl.com/38nscbv - National Geographic

Prehistoric pet? Dog burial found in Orange County
It might have been a treasured pet, or the victim of traditional destruction of property after its owner's death. The reason for its burial remains a mystery. But 18 centuries ago, someone carefully positioned the body of a small dog in what was likely a shallow grave in the marshlands of Laguna Canyon, then turned over a stone grinding bowl to cover the animal.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/dog-252748-burial-href.html

Travelogue - Stepping Back in Time at Chimayo N.M.
In the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along the high road to Taos, N.M., the brown paths winding into Chimayó match the tan buildings and lend a timeless look. About 30 miles north of Santa Fe, Chimayó is a treasure of ancient cultures, mountain scenery and Mediterranean climate.
http://tinyurl.com/385pqwh - Dallas Morning News

Lecture Opportunity (Tucson)
Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh will present the monthly Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society Lecture, "Massacre at Camp Grant: Forgetting and Remembering Apache History". The lecture will be June 21st at 7:30 pm at DuVal Auditorium, UMC, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Free and open to the public.
http://tinyurl.com/aahs-chip - Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society

Archaeology of the Aegean is the Latest Feature on the Archaeology Channel
Nowhere is the imprint of ancient human activity more visibly evident than in the Aegean region of today’s Turkey. You can witness a remarkable series of well preserved, substantial, impressive, and well documented ancient cities and buildings from the Classical world–and the modern context in which they exist--in The Aegean, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel.
http://www.archaeologychannel.org

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

Representative Kirkpatrick Introduces Legislation to Expand Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

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

Representative Kirkpatrick Introduces Legislation to Protect the Adamsville Ruin and Expand Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
It might have been an upscale residential neighborhood back in its day - 700 years ago.Now the massive mound of earth - topped with faint remains of ancient walls and pieces of prehistoric pottery - is poised for a possible new heyday as part of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. The site east of Coolidge, known as the Adamsville Ruin, is part of a proposed 415-acre expansion of the monument. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., last month introduced a bill that would add ancient canals, ball courts, platform mounds and fields to the preserve, which is centered on a four-story casa grande, or great house.
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_ae99ef90-0f87-59c1-97fb-0314a010c595.html

All State Parks and Historic Sites Listed as Part of the National Trust's 11 Most Endangered Sites
Past decades have dealt several windfalls to historic preservation. Thanks to the broadening of the movement to include places with social historical relevance, as opposed to a focus on mansions and political-history sites, “We’re seeing more diverse faces,” says Valecia Crisafulli, acting vice president of programs at the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), “and certainly the Modernist thread is bringing in younger people.” More recently, the Great Recession has provided another jumpstart, as frugal Americans are visiting nearby historic state parks and other sites more frequently. Yet the economic downturn has put those very travel destinations in jeopardy. Budget cuts are forcing closure of myriad state-owned properties, particularly in Arizona, California, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. For that reason, this year NTHP listed all state parks and state-owned historic sites as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
http://tinyurl.com/25x68jx - The Architectural Record

National Science Foundation to Require Data Management Plans for All Future Research
(From Digging Digitally) On or around October, 2010, NSF is planning to require that all proposals include a data management plan in the form of a two-page supplementary document. The change reflects a move to the Digital Age, where scientific breakthroughs will be powered by advanced computing techniques that help researchers explore and mine datasets.
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116928&org=NSF&from=news

Special Guided Tour of the TJ Site near Gila Cliff Dwellings Announced
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument will offer a ranger-guided tour of the TJ Site on Saturday, June 12, 2010. Visitors to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument have the unique opportunity to explore the TJ Site, an unexcavated surface pueblo that is usually closed to the public. This free tour of the TJ site will be offered on Saturday, June 12th at 11:00 a.m. and will last approximately 1 ½ hours. The tour is limited to 20 people and reservations should be made in advance by calling the Gila Visitor Center at (575) 536-9461.

Dam Construction Results in Several Archaeological Excavations in Southern Utah
A site once occupied by prehistoric Puebloan people, which includes multiple American Indian remains, is being excavated before the place is scraped away to make room for a dam and reservoir. The ruins will eventually be flooded by the Jackson Flat Reservoir, being built by the Kane County Water Conservancy District to hold water normally lost in the summer months. It will be piped from Kanab Creek and used by farmers and possibly leased by the city and Kane County.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_15153724?source=rss

Did the Clovis People Cause the Earth's Climate to Cool through Megafauna Extinction?
The rapid decline of mammoths and other megafauna after humans spread across the New World may explain a bone-chilling plunge in global temperatures some 12,800 years ago, researchers reported Sunday. The 100-odd species of grass-eating giants that once crowded the North American landscape released huge quantities of methane -- from both ends of their digestive tracks.
http://news.discovery.com/animals/mammoths-megafauna-global-freeze.html

Arizona Governor Recognizes 10 for Preserving State’s Heritage
n Friday, May 14, recipients of the 28th Annual Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honors Awards were recognized -- and the Grand Award winner announced -- to 250 attendees of the 8th Annual Arizona Statewide Historic Preservation Partnership Conference at the du Bois Center on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Presenting the awards on behalf of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer were Renée Bahl, Arizona State Parks Executive Director; James Garrison, Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer; and Lisa Henderson, Arizona Preservation Foundation Board President.
http://tinyurl.com/269x28d - Arizona Preservation Foundation

California SHPO Nominated to Chair Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Milford Wayne Donaldson currently serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for the state of California. Mr. Donaldson is affiliated with several historical and preservation organizations and is a past president of the California Preservation Foundation and past chair of the State Historical Building Safety Board, the State Historical Resources Commission, and the Historic State Capitol Commission.
http://tinyurl.com/2dgghpf - The Whitehouse

Sheep is Life Celebration Scheduled for June (Update)
Call for Artists for the Juried Navajo Rug and Contemporary Fiber Arts Shows
at the 14th Annual Sheep is Life Celebration, Diné College, Tsailé Campus, Navajo Nation. Diné be’ iiná, Inc. presents two fiber arts sale shows on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19, during the 14th Annual Sheep is Life Celebration at Diné College in Tsailé, the Navajo Nation. Contact TahNibaa Naataanii, Project Director, at 505.406.7428 for information about submitting work, e-mail info@navajolifeway.org, or go to www.navajolifeway.org. No commission is charged to the artists. Public admission is free.

Travelogue - Pueblo Grande
The Hohokam people mysteriously disappeared in the 15th century, but glimpses into their quiet, farming-based lives can be still be seen in the middle of metropolitan Phoenix, at the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park. Occupying 3.24 acres just off of Washington Street and east of Sky Harbor Airport, the museum and village ruins illustrate how the Hohokam were pioneers of desert irrigation and flash food farming. In the museum theater, visitors can watch a 10 minute video that gives a quick history.
http://tinyurl.com/2ut2f4m - Phoenix New Times

Radiocarbon Dating Featured on the Archaeology Channel
The concept of radiocarbon dating is fairly simple, but the process that a radiocarbon laboratory goes through is quite detailed, careful and complex. You can follow a submitted sample through the laboratory process (in this case using accelerator mass spectrometry, or AMS) in Dating: The Radiocarbon Way, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel.
http://www.archaeologychannel.org

Employment Opportunity (Monticello Ranger District)
The Manti-La Sal National Forest, located in southeastern Utah, intends to fill one GS-0193-09 Archaeologist position in the near future. This position that will serve the Moab-Monticello Ranger District and assist the Heritage Program as needed. This is a permanent full time position with a duty station of Monticello, Utah. The position will be filled only at the GS-09 level and has no promotion potential.
http://www,cdarc.org/sat/gs9_monticello.doc

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

Congresswoman Wants to Expand Nation's Oldest Archaeological Preserve

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

Congresswoman Wants to Expand Nations Oldest Archaeological Preserve

On Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix is one of America's most enduring ancient mysteries--a giant adobe structure called Casa Grande. It was erected by the Hohokam, a people who built towns where Tucson and Phoenix are today and who turned the desert green with an extensive system of irrigation. Ironically, the modern city of Phoenix was founded by American settlers who cleared out the prehistoric Hohokam canals and reused them for their own farms.
http://tinyurl.com/2ee49qr - Gadling.Com
http://tinyurl.com/2e52el6 - Center for Desert Archaeology


Arizona Republic Declares "Congress Should Expand Monument"

The Hohokam civilization rose in central Arizona, flourished for a millennium and disappeared before Columbus discovered America. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick introduced a bill last week to preserve the traces of this prehistoric desert culture by expanding the boundaries of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. Congress should move quickly to approve it.
http://tinyurl.com/256mljl - Arizona Republic
CRM Firm Embroiled in Texas Ranger Burial Controversy Files for Bankruptcy
An archaeology company tangled in civil suits with the city of Waco over its work on the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum has filed for bankruptcy. American Archaeology Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Austin on Thursday afternoon, a court clerk said.
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/92480179.html


Learn About the Other Codetalkers at the Last Archaeology Cafe of the Season (Tucson)

The last Archaeology Cafe until September 2010 will take place this Tuesday, May 4, 6:15 p.m., at Casa Vicente in Tucson. Our presenter will be Dr. Suzanne Griset, Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and Oral Historian with SWCA Environmental Consultants in Tucson. Suzanne will discuss "The Other Codetalkers: Civilian Native American War Efforts at Navajo Ordnance Depot."
http://www.cdarc.org/2010/02/22/archaeology-cafe-recent-research-at-camp-navajo/

Civilian Conservation Corps History to be Featured in New Exhibit at the Arizona History Museum

A 1400 square foot multimedia exhibit tracing the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps and its Arizona projects will soon be on view at the Arizona Historical Society's Arizona History Museum in Tucson. It Saved my Life: Civilian Conservation Corps at the Grand Canyon, 1933-1942 was created by the National Park Service in 2008 to celebrate the CCC's 75th anniversary. The loaned exhibit, with the addition of period photographs and local artifacts from AHS and others, will open on Friday, May 14 with a special evening event from 5 until 7 p.m., when visitors may tour the displays, enjoy light refreshments and hear stories directly from CCC enrollees themselves.
http://willcoxrangenews.com/articles/2010/04/29/news/news18.txt


Giant Sequoias Yield Longest Fire History from Tree Rings

A 3,000-year record from 52 of the world's oldest trees shows that California's western Sierra Nevada was droughty and often fiery from 800 to 1300, according to new research. It's the longest tree-ring fire history in the world, and it's from this amazing place with these amazing trees." said lead author Thomas W. Swetnam of the University of Arizona in Tucson. "This is an epic collection of tree rings
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100318093300.htm


Interior Secretary Salazar Promotes National Parks and Stimulus Efforts at Mesa Verde

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was at Mesa Verde National Park on Sunday to highlight nearly $50 million in improvements being made at the park, including a $23 million visitor and research center. The facility, which will be located just south of the park entrance on U.S. Highway 160, will replace the Far View Visitor Center, situated deep in the park and constructed 50 years ago as a temporary field lab. Construction on the new center, which is expected to meet the highest green-building standards, is scheduled to begin in the fall.
http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/04/26/Investments_significant/


Hopi Hotel and Conference Center Opens at Moenkopi

A Hopi village has opened a hotel and conference center billed as the western gateway to the reservation. The Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites had its official dedication this week. The hotel features 100 guest rooms, a salt water swimming pool and whirlpool, an outdoor performance plaza and a kiva garden.
http://www.fox11az.com/news/local/92491004.html

Tucson's Mission Gardens Project Seeks Donations and Volunteers

May is National Preservation Month, and according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the focus this year is: "Old is the new green." Supporters of the Mission Gardens on South Grande Avenue believe the proposed project is a perfect example of that theme.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/putting-down-roots/Content?oid=1945862


Utah Prehistory Week

May 1st kicks off a week long celebration of Utah’s ancient past and archaeology. Utah Prehistory Week, May 1-8, 2010, is a statewide event in which local communities celebrate ancient heritage. Events are scheduled throughout the state and range from tours of archaeological sites, lectures, kids activities, and museum exhibit openings.
http://tinyurl.com/27qarh7 - Examiner.Com


Colorado Celebrates its Heritage

This May, cities and towns across the state will, once again, host events honoring Colorado's past during Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month. This year's theme is “Pathways to Colorado's Heritage,” and the entire month will feature plenty of free or modestly priced tours, exhibits, lectures, displays and events.
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100430/AE/100429764/-1/rss


Take a Historic Walk in Colorado with the Santa Fe Trail Caravan

Take a three-mile hike down the Santa Fe Trail behind an ox-driven Conestoga wagon. Interpreters from Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site will demonstrate trail life in the 1840s. The caravan will leave Sierra Vista Overlook on Highway 350 at 10 a.m. on May 8 and travel to the Timpas Picnic Area. For more information, please contact Rick Wallner at 719-383-5024 or rick_wallner@nps.gov.


Anasazi Heritage Center Celebrates Archaeology Month With Lecture And Free Admission

Archaeologist Ben Bellorado will speak at the Anasazi Heritage Center on Sunday, May 9, at 1 p.m. in connection with Colorado Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month. Admission to the museum will be free throughout the day.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/bellorado.doc - MS Word Document


Blanding Artifact Looting Defendants to Face Trial in October

Five defendants netted in a government crackdown on artifacts trafficking will take their case to trial before a federal judge in October. Co-defendants Joseph M. Smith, Meredith Smith, Tad Kreth, Reece Laws and Brandon Laws will take their case to trial before U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart on Oct. 25. The trial is slated to run for two weeks.
http://tinyurl.com/2dhbwps - Deseret News

Thanks to Carrie Gregory and Adrianne Rankin for contributions to today's newsletter.