Ancient Agricultural Impacts and Climatic Change Studied at ASU

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

- ASU Archaeologist Michael C Barton Presents Research on the Climatic Impacts of Agricultural Practice: Arizona State University archaeologist C. Michael Barton has gained a reputation for learning about human-environment interaction by applying a long-term perspective, as well as the latest technology, to his research. His Mediterranean Landscape Dynamics project is creating multidimensional computer models of landscape change and agricultural land use practices for a 6,000-year period from the beginning of farming to the rise of urban civilization.
http://asunews.asu.edu/20091125_barton

- Northern Arizona and Most of the Southwest in Drought: Rancher Duane Coleman manages a large ranch on land partly owned by the Hopi Tribe southeast of Flagstaff, near Twin Arrows. Of 75 tanks to water cattle on the ranch, all but two are dry, and the ranch received only 2.5 inches of monsoon rain this year, Coleman said. Coleman, vice president of the local Natural Resources Conservation District, is hauling 11,000 gallons of water a day to supply his livestock, he said, and has had to cut the number of cattle on the land by about a third. Normally he only has to haul water in the summer sometimes.
http://azdailysun.com/articles/2009/11/25/news/20091125_front_208099.txt

- Hopi Tribe to Open Hotel and Visitor's Center in Moenkopi: Tourists traveling the vast expanse of tribal lands in northern Arizona soon will have a venue to learn about the culture of one of the oldest indigenous tribes in America. A $13 million hotel and conference center billed as the western gateway to the Hopi reservation is set to open late this year, where entertainment, lectures and demonstrations will provide non-Hopis with an insight into the tribe's culture and traditions.
http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1236397

- Reminder - Archaeology Cafe This Tuesday in Tucson: The next Archaeology Café will convene on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 6:00 pm, at Casa Vicente, 375 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ. This month, we will be joined by Don Burgess, former General Manager of KUAT TV. Thirty-one Latin-inscribed lead crosses and a caliche plaque collectively known as the Silverbell Artifacts confounded scholars at the time of their appearance over the years between 1924 and 1930. The items appeared to attest to Roman presence in southern Arizona between A.D. 775 and 940. Don will tell the story behind the story, and dispel the myths surrounding this deliberate hoax. The legacy of this incident continues to this day, as Arizona State Museum and Arizona History Museum curators can attest from the yearly inquiries they receive. The Café Program is Free and open to the community—all are welcome.
http://www.cdarc.org/2009/11/16/archaeology-cafe-romans-in-tucson/

- Debate on North American Megafauna Extinctions Continue, but Timing of Event is Becoming Better Defined: ears of scientific debate over the extinction of ancient species in North America have yielded many theories. However, new findings from J. Tyler Faith, GW Ph.D. candidate in the hominid paleobiology doctoral program, and Todd Surovell, associate professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming, reveal that a mass extinction occurred in a geological instant.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091127140706.htm

Travelogue - Southwestern Education Vacation: The American Southwest bursts with potential for exploration, and offers opportunities to learn about Native American groups, particularly the Hopi and Anasazi. Discover what it’s like to drive the Trail of the Ancients scenic byway, plan a day trip to New Mexico’s Chaco Culture National Historical Park or create an itinerary for the Four Corners, a hotbed of Native American history and culture.
http://tinyurl.com/y9a6kmo - Finding Dulcina

Ancient Olla Repatriated to Acoma, Hopi Basketry Exhibit to Open at Arizona State Museum

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

- Ancient Jar Repatriated to Acoma Pueblo: The U.S. Attorney's Office and investigators with the Bureau of Land Management returned an ancient clay jar to its rightful owners Wednesday after it had been stolen from a New Mexico archaeological site. Dignitaries of Acoma Pueblo accepted the jar, called an olla, during a ceremony. The jar was made sometime between 900 and 1100 A.D.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/bm6m - Santa Fe New Mexican

- Hopi Basketry Exhibit to Open at the Arizona State Museum: On the surface, they're just baskets. Take a second look, and the hand-woven works of art become insightful symbols of an ancient culture full of mystique. The Arizona State Museum is hosting the Opening Celebrations for a new exhibit, "Circles of life: Katsina Imagery in Hopi Basketry."
http://www.cdarc.org/page/j63z - Arizona Daily Wildcat

- Arizona National Parks Intend to Fight Invasive Plants: The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to treat invasive plant species at Chiricahua National Monument in Willcox, Ariz., Fort Bowie National Historic Site in Bowie, Ariz. and Coronado National Memorial in Hereford, Ariz. An invasive plant inventory has been completed by the NPS Sonoran Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network, Tucson, Ariz. We are assessing the impacts of implementing integrated pest management practices to treat non-native and native plants that become invasive (or out of balance) with the natural plant communities, primarily due to disturbance. Treatments on invasive species that are present in the monuments or become established over the next ten years will be assessed.
http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/articles/2009/01/28/news/news23.txt

- Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Centennial Celebration Lecture Series Begins in February: Join the SPMNM every Friday Evening in February and March to hear visiting scholars from all over New Mexico share their stories, expertise and experience as a part of the Monument's Centennial Celebration.
http://www.cdarc.org/sat/salinas.jpg

- Southwestern Artistic Dynasties: There are dynasties in art. Consider the Carter Family in country music or the Brueghels in painting. In Germany, there once were so many Bachs in music, the family name became a synonym for musician. It would be difficult to count the Nampeyos in Hopi pottery. And among the Santa Clara Pueblo potters, there is the extended Naranjo family, descended from matriarch Rose Naranjo (b. 1915).
http://www.cdarc.org/page/d4rl - Arizona Republic

- Registration Now Open For the 12th ICOMOS International Symposium on Preservation: March 11-15, 2009 in New Orleans, "Preservation in Peril -Disaster Planning, Rapid Response, and Sustainable Recovery in the 21st Century."
http://www.usicomos.org/symposium

- ICOMOS Earthen Architecture Bilbleography Now Online: This bibliography is based on the publications on this topic available at the Documentation Centre. It includes also the earthen architectural heritage on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/d4rl - ICOMOS

-Summer Heritage Documentation Internship/Fellowship Opportunites With HABS/HAER: Heritage Documentation Programs seeks applications from qualified individuals for summer employment documenting historic sites and structures of architectural, landscape and technological significance throughout the country. Duties involve on-site field work and preparation of measured and interpretive drawings and written historical reports for the HABS/HAER/HALS Collections at the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. Projects last 12 weeks, beginning in late May or early June. Salaries range from approximately $6,000 to approximately $11,000 for the summer, depending on job responsibility, locality of the project, and level of experience. Applications Due: February 17, 2009 (postmark date).
http://www.nps.gov/history/hdp/jobs/summer.htm

Call for Volunteer Assistance (Tucson) Old Pueblo Archaeology's new home is located at the Tucson Unified School District's Ajo Service Center: 2201 W. 44th Street, about 1/4-mile west of La Cholla Blvd. (44th Street is between Ajo Way (on the south) and 22nd Street/Starr Pass Blvd.). Our next big thing that we need some volunteers to help with is the construction of our new simulated archaeological dig site - the "OPEN3" site - that will be used to teach classrooms of children about archaeological fieldwork and interpretation methods. We will be constructing the site the coming Saturday starting at 9 a.m., so if you'd like to get your hands dirty with us (and probably some of your other body parts and clothes) and can spare some time, could you please volunteer to help us with this effort? We need to have the new "dig" site ready in time for our first school program of the year on February 6, so this weekend is our biggest push to get it done. We really need some help this Saturday, so if you can join in please contact our children's program instructor Cris Wagner at Old Pueblo's phone number 520-798-1201 or at Cris's email address: cwagner@oldpueblo.org.

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

Nevada Archaeological Crime Prosecuted, New Home for Arizona Archives, Lecture on Hohokam Rituals Tonight

Southwest Archaeology Making the News – A Service of the Center for Desert Archaeology

- Father and Son Plead ‘Not Guilty’ to Looting Charges: A father and son from Northern California have pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they illegally collected Indian artifacts in Nevada. Donald Parker, who is 69, and his 42-year-old son, Steven Parker, were arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento.
http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/1013798.html

- Arizona Archives Move to New Facility: As constitutions go, it doesn’t exactly evoke a sense of history. It’s typewritten. Typewriters, after all, were the latest thing in 1910, when the state Constitution was drafted. Still, the document is a part of history. It’s an archive. And it will soon have a new home, one more modern than a typewriter.
http://azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=9857
http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?ID=9858

- Homolovi Hosts Hopi Artists: The history of northern Arizona is rooted in the movement of Pueblo clans. The descendents of these people produce art that depicts their stories and traditions, and you can see the artists at work from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Homolovi Ruins State Park. Hopi artist demonstrations will be featured every Saturday through December 20.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/7ndx - The Arizona Republic

- Non-Native, But Still Heirloom: The Kino Heritage Fruit Trees Project involves finding the oldest heirloom trees, taking cuttings and planting them. The project's goal is to replant the heirloom trees at the mission gardens in Tumacácori National Historic Park, south of Tucson. Heirloom trees will also be planted in Tucson in the Rio Nuevo gardens of Origins Heritage Park on the west bank of the Santa Cruz, near the nursery.
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/267480

- Accomplished Prescott Craftsman Entrusted with Katsina Restorations: Hopi and Zuni carvers entrust Neely with their personal doll repairs, and he in turn promises that he would never carve his own katsina doll. "The Hopi have a very complex religion and culture. I respect that and treat the dolls that way," he said.
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=61326

- Lecture Opportunity Tonight, “Hohokam Rituals: The Meso-American Connection.” Dr. Stephanie Whittlesey of SWCA Environmental Services will speak at 7:30 pm at the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society’s free monthly lecture. The event, which is open to the public, will be held tonight, November 17, at the DuVal Auditorium of the University Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson. For more information, refer to the following link.
http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/aahs/lectures.shtml

- Lecture Opportunity, “In the Aftermath of Ancestral Puebloan Migrations to Southern Arizona.” Dr. Anna Neuzil of EcoPlan Associates will speak on Thursday, November 20, at 7:30 pm at Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, 5100 W. Ina Road, Bldg. 8, Tucson. Old Pueblo’s lecture program, which occurs on the third Thursday of every month, is free and open to the public. For more information on the lecture series and other exciting activities happening this week, visit Old Pueblo’s website below.
http://www.oldpueblo.org/

- Exhibition Opening, BLM Anasazi Heritage Center, “The Old Spanish Trail: A Conduit for Change.” On the day after Thanksgiving the Anasazi Heritage Center will open a special exhibit about the Southwest’s earliest and most important historic trade route, which ran from northern New Mexico to the Pacific coast. The exhibition traces the trail's history through artifacts, maps, and images. It was developed by the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado in conjunction with the Old Spanish Trail Association, and made possible in part by a cost share grant from the NPS National Trails System Office in Santa Fe. The exhibition continues through October 2009. For more information, call the Center at (970) 882-5600 or visit the website below.
www.blm.gov/ahc

- Travelogue – History of Natural Bridges National Monument: The monument now features a paved entrance road, a campground, a fancy visitor center, video program and modern ranger residences. But it began simply with the dream of pioneers who believed in conservation and stewardship of special places. "We owe them a great debt," said Ryan. "It is overwhelming."
http://www.sltrib.com/help/ci_10810444

Thanks to Doug Kupel for contributions to today’s newsletter.

9th Circuit Court Reverses Itself on Native American Religious Freedom, 2008 Pecos Conference

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

- 9th Circuit Court Overturns Ruling Protecting Native American Religious Rights, Effluent Will Be Allowed at Snowbowl: A federal appellate court on Friday sided with a Flagstaff ski resort, ruling that its plan for using reclaimed wastewater to make artificial snow does not violate the religious freedom of Native Americans. The ruling sets up a potential showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court, where Arizona tribal leaders, environmental groups and their attorneys pledge to appeal their case.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/kg16 - Arizona Republic

- 2008 Pecos Conference a Smashing Success: Despite two drenching thunderstorms, over 600 professional and avocational archaeologists gathered in tents near Flagstaff to review field research and special topics in southwestern archaeology. With the gracious assistance of professional videographer Betsy Hamilton of Interpark, Inc., the Center for Desert Archaeology recorded many of the presentations for future online educational purposes. Brian Kenny's digital efforts allowed for remote internet access and online blogging. Brian's "twitter" diary of the conference is available at
http://twitter.com/dogyears

- Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society Awards Recognize Outstanding Contributions to Southwestern Archaeology: Four persons were honored at the 2008 Pecos Conference. Bryant Bannister and David R Wilcox received the Byron S. Cummings Award; Agnese Nelms Haury and Adriel Heisey were presented with the Victor R. Stoner Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Archaeology or Historic Preservation.

- New Arizona State Museum Exhibit Gallery Construction Slated to Begin in 2009: The University of Arizona intends to start building the combined UA Science Center and Arizona State Museum in the summer of 2009 if the city can secure funding for Rio Nuevo projects. UA is nearing completion of schematic designs that provide the basic layout for two museums sharing a lobby, loading docks, and other facilities, said Robert R. Smith, UA's assistant vice president of design and construction.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/92764.php

- Debunking Grand Canyon Egyptians: Yes, indeed—on April 5, 1909, The Phoenix Gazette, my Arizona journalism alma mater, did run a story over a stacked headline that read EXPLORATIONS IN GRAND CANYON! Mysteries of Immense Rich Cavern being brought to light—Jordan is enthused—Remarkable finds indicate ancient people migrated from Orient. The story below these headlines went on to tell of an exploration sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution involving S.A. Jordan and G.E. Kincaid, an adventurer.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/42wr

- Travelogue, Navajo Nation: This is not America. The Navajo own a slice of Arizona almost as big as Scotland, where history and culture predate Columbus—and John Wayne. They say Americans don't walk. Well, they do in the Navajo Nation—because even if northern Arizona has gigabytes of photogenic vistas, getting out of the car is the only way to get your boots covered in desert dust and soak up the silence.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/lfn - The Guardian

- Comcast Blocks Delivery of Southwestern Archaeology Today for Roughly 400 Subscribers: If you’re a regular reader of the Southwestern Archaeology Today newsletter, and noticed that we have not been in your inbox of late, odds are that Comcast's anti-spam system blocked delivery of your copy of SAT. If you wish to catch up, newsletters are archived at Blogspot and the Center for Desert Archaeology's website.
http://www.cdarc.org/pages/articles.php?req=category&cat_id=28