Southwest Archaeology Today Newsletter for January 29th, 2012
ASU Digital Antiquity Center Receives Support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Preserving archaeological information, facilitating access to a wide range of digital documents and data, and enhancing archaeological research are vital services that Arizona State University’s Center for Digital Antiquity provides for researchers, students and the public. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded a grant of $1.2 million beginning in March 2012 that will support the center’s operations and development. The grant enables the center to greatly expand the content of its digital repository, to enlarge the community of users and to continue development and enhancement of software to improve the repository user’s experience. http://asunews.asu.edu/20120126_digitalrepository
Tribal Cooperation Helping to Preserve Tutuveni
In the far reaches of Northern Arizona, where city sprawl gives way to majestic canyons and a holy place is defined not by steeple and cross but rather by earth and sky, lies a monument to a people’s past and a symbol of the promise of peace between two long-warring Indian nations. The Hopi people call it Tutuveni, meaning “newspaper rock,” and from a distance this place is just that — a collection of sandstone boulders set on a deserted swath of rust-stained land outside of Tuba City, some 80 miles from the Grand Canyon and a four-hour drive north of Phoenix. http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19843161?source=rss
AAHS Selects Left Coast Press for Publication of Kiva
Left Coast Press, Inc. and the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS) are pleased to announce a partnership for publication of the Society’s journal Kiva: Journal of Southwestern Anthropology and History effective with volume 78, beginning in September 2012. Kiva is the leading refereed serial publication in the archaeology, anthropology, and history of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Dr. James Snead, Department of Anthropology, California State University at Northridge, will continue as the journal Editor. The current publisher, AltaMira Press, will publish Kiva until the completion of Volume 77 in June 2012. Founded in 1916, the not-for-profit AAHS provides a forum for professionals in archaeology and related fields as well as the general public to share their common interests and enthusiasm for the Southwest’s rich cultural history. Left Coast Press, Inc. is a specialty publisher of academic and professional archaeology founded in 2005 and based in Walnut Creek, California. Both parties are delighted to establish this long-term relationship for future development of this important publication. http://www.az-arch-and-hist.org
2012 Arizona Archaeology Expo Flyer Released
Please feel free to print out the flyer and pass it on — in addition to kicking off the month-long celebration of Arizona’s heritage and the state’s Centennial, the Expo is an “Official Arizona Centennial Event.” http://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/sat/2012_arch_expo_f.pdf
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Seeks Artist in Residence
The Bureau of Land Management will inaugurate an Artist-in-Residence program at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument near Dolores, Colorado during summer 2012. Each residency will be for one week during April, May, June, or July. Artist applications will be accepted from February 1 through February 29. Resident artists will experience a stimulating and rugged environment in which to create art and share it with the public. Filled with both scenic beauty and unique human stories, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM) is part of the National Landscape Conservation System. It encompasses thousands of archaeological sites, including 13 Ancestral Puebloan settlements identified for visitors. There are few roads, little shade, and no visitor amenities within its boundaries. Spring can be snowy and cold; summer can be hot. The Anasazi Heritage Center serves as the Monument’s management and visitor center. www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nm/canm/artist_in_residence.html
Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center Reopens
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument invites the public to return to the Gila Visitor Center and Western National Parks Association Store. Repairs to the Gila Visitor Center’s roof and ceilings have been completed, and the visitor center reopened to the public on Tuesday, January 16, 2012. The Gila Visitor Center is open to the public from 8 am to 4:30 pm every day. It includes a small museum displaying artifacts from the Gila Cliff Dwellings and surrounding area and an exhibit on the Chiricahua Apache who consider the Gila Wilderness part of their homeland. A 15-minute video illustrates what life may have been like for the people of the Mogollon region who built and occupied the Gila Cliff Dwellings over 700 years ago.
Oracle State Park to Celebrate Partial Re-Opening
Thanks to a lot of volunteer support, and a partnership between Friends of Oracle State Park and Arizona State Parks, the park gates are ready to swing open on Saturday, February 4 for a Re-Opening Event that is FREE to the public. Bring your own picnic to the park and help celebrate the return of Guided Tours of the Historic Kannally Ranch House, Guided Bird Walks, workshops and educational talks, set inside the 4,000 acre wildlife refuge and environmental learning center. The Oracle State Park Main Gate at Old Mt. Lemmon Road will be open Saturdays, 8am – 5pm, February 4 through April 28. The American Avenue Trailhead Parking Lot will reopen Sunrise to Sunset February, March and April, for Arizona Trail access. http://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/sat/2012_orac_reopen.pdf
Arizona State Museum Seeks Volunteers for Southwest Indian Arts Festival
The museum relies upon dedicated and hard-working volunteers to make our annual Southwest Indian Art Fair a success. There are a variety of positions available and flexible time slots over the busy weekend (Feb 18 and 19). Volunteers get free admission to the art fair, copious refreshments, and of course the undying gratitude from all your friends at Arizona State Museum. Sign up today! Visit http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/events/swiaf/swiaf_volunteer_reg.shtml or contact ASM volunteer coordinator Mackenzie Massman at 520-621-4096.
Celebrate Tucson’s Historic Fort Lowell Historic District
Fort Lowell Day Celebration: The Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood’s annual historic sites walking tour, Saturday, February 11, 2012, noon – 4pm. The late 19th century Fort Lowell and the historic village of El Fuerte come to life with reenactments from the period. Start the day at 10 am with a Vintage Baseball Game at Fort Lowell Park between The Bisbee Black Sox and Tucson Sahuaros. Watch Cavalry Drills, listen to a Cavalry Regimental Band, learn how to make adobe bricks and kids can “join up” by participating in “You’re in the Army Now.” In the historic neighborhood west of Craycroft, docents along the walking tour route are on hand to describe the background of every historic site. All events are free. See www.OldFortLowellNeighborhood.org for more information.
Lecture Opportunity (Cortez, CO)
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society is pleased to present Susan Ryan to discuss The Albert Porter Pueblo Research Project: What Have We Learned? on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00 PM at the Cortez Cultural Center. In her presentation, Susan will summarize the four years of research at the Albert Porter great house and surrounding community. She will focus on the themes of social differentiation and how the Porter great house fits into the Chaco regional system. Susan is the Project Director for Crow Canyon’s excavations at the Porter Pueblo. She has authored and co-authored a variety of publications and is a frequent presenter at various conferences and symposia. Contact Bob Bernhart @ 970-739-6772 with questions about this, or any, program
Professional Development Opportunity: NEPA Compliance and Cultural Resources
Learn about environmental impact analysis, cultural resource management, and historic preservation responsibilities and relationships. Assess practical applications for effectively integrating the analyses required by the National Environmental Policy Act, related environmental regulations, and the National Historic Preservation Act. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org. Phoenix, AZ — February 28-29, 2012 Instructor. Joe Trnka, AICP, CEP, principal investigator, J Trnka Consulting, LLC, senior cultural resources manager and certified environmental professional; specialist in NEPA, Section 106, and Section 4(f) projects. A registration form is available online at www.npi.org/register.html. The advance registration rate is available through January 17, 2012 — $450 (2 days). The regular registration rate after that date is $500 (2 days).
Southwest Archaeology Today Newsletter for January 22nd, 2012
Utah State Archaeologist Fired in Political Dispute Appeals the Termination of His Position
Former State Archaeologist Kevin Jones is appealing his firing from the state last June in a major restructuring. But the state is fighting him all the way, saying — to start with — that he retired and has no appeal available. Bob Thompson, administrator of the Utah Career Service Review Office, is expected to rule next month whether his agency can even take up Jones’ complaint against the Department of Community and Culture (DCC). http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53334433-90/state-jones-retirement-archaeologist.html.csp
Join Archaeology Southwest’s Next Archaeology Café for an Examination of New Interpretations of Ancient Rock Art
On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, Henry Wallace will broaden our thinking about what what rock art can contribute to our understanding of the human experience. 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 from September through May at 6:00 p.m.; presentations begin at 6:15 p.m. Seating is open on a first-come, first-served basis—be ready to make new acquaintances! Our forum opens with a brief, informal presentation on a timely or even controversial topic, followed by a question and answer period and a short break. Our moderator then commences spirited but focused discussion. http://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/event/what-can-we-really-learn-from-prehistoric-rock-art/
Aztec High School JROTC Receives $75,000 Dollar Grant to Assist at Aztec Ruins National Monument
The year has just begun, and Aztec High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program already has received the largest grant of any JROTC program in the nation for the 2011-2012 school year. Starting in February, the local JROTC program will use $75,000 from the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps to maintain and improve the nearby Aztec Ruins National Monument while also learning skills and earning pay. http://www.daily-times.com/farmington-news/ci_19780753?source=rss
Deer Valley Rock Art Center Presents Another Season of the Popular Story Time Series
Ollie’s Storybook Adventures return to Arizona State University’s Deer Valley Rock Art Center with storytimes about archaeology, desert wildlife and Native American cultures. The season begins on Jan. 27, with a storytime titled “Cool Coyotes.” The book will be “Coyote: A Trickster Tale From the American Southwest” by Gerald McDermott. http://asunews.asu.edu/20120117_ollies_storybookadventures
Request for Volunteers for the Arizona Archaeology Expo
The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office and APS are seeking volunteers to help implement the 2012 Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Expo (Saturday, March 3rd, at the State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, 85007; 9 am to 4 pm). Volunteers are needed to help direct parking, monitor crosswalks, monitor and pick up trash, help with clean up, and other activities as needed. If you can help out, even for a couple of hours, it would be greatly appreciated! Please contact Ann Howard at (602) 542-7138 or avh2@azstateparks.gov for more information, or to let her know that you can help.
National Park Service Looking for Descendants of Arizona Homesteaders
The National Park Service is looking for Arizonans who homesteaded land or whose ancestors did to help celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the federal Homestead Act. Homestead National Monument of America in Nebraska is recruiting volunteers from the 30 states covered by the Act to carry their state’s flag at events in May and June. http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/travel/2012/01/park-service-seeks-ariz-homesteaders-descendants/2100746
Ancient Home Found Under San Antonio Riverside Park
The San Antonio River is home to the River Walk, tourists and now – in a stretch of the river miles from downtown – apparently the home of ancient man. A preliminary investigation by state archaeologists found a pre-historic hut near the river from the Late Archaic Period. “The carbon dating now shows it’s from 2275 BC and it burned down,” said Betty Bueche, Facilities Manager for Bexar County. Bueche is overseeing the $5.2 million facelift to Mission County Park. The renovations required a preliminary dig by archaeologists. http://www.kens5.com/news/local/San-Antonio-River-walkin-about-4000-years-ago-137713568.html
Historic Preservation Internship Opportunity – Santa Fe
Heritage Preservation of nearly any kind depends ultimately on a team of skilled workers who have learned the ethics and approaches of preservation as well as the disciplines of their own trades. In particular, the knowledge and skills associated with the traditional building trades are at the heart of architectural conservation. But sadly such skilled crafters are in increasingly short supply. http://www.historicsantafe.org/Internship.html
Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
Ken Scoville will present a free lecture titled “Fort Lowell, the History of Arizona” on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 3 p.m. The Fort Lowell Historic District in Tucson provides many of the answers to the question, “Why is Arizona the state it is today?” This presentation explores the physical features that caused the emergence of different layers of culture, the resulting regional shelter that developed over centuries, and the results of rapid population growth. The cultural layers include the Hohokam, Spanish explorers, Territorial soldiers, and the El Fuerte farming community. Ken Scoville is a recognized local historian and outspoken advocate for historic preservation issues.
Workshop Opportunity – Tucson
Saturday, January 28, 2012, Arrowhead-making and Flintknapping Workshop in Tucson. Archaeologist and expert flintknapper Allen Denoyer teaches how to make arrowheads, spear points, and other flaked stone artifacts just like ancient peoples did, providing hands-on experience and learning about how ancient peoples made and used tools from obsidian and other stones. This workshop is designed to help modern people understand how prehistoric Native Americans made traditional crafts, and is not intended to train students how to make artwork for sale. Place: Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, 2201 W. 44th Street, Tucson. Time: 9 a.m. to noon. Fee: $35 ($28 for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary members). Reservations required. http://www.oldpueblo.org/assets/20120128FlintknappingWorkshop.pdf
First Physical Evidence of Tobacco in Mayan Container
ScienceDaily (Jan. 11, 2012) — A scientist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an anthropologist from the University at Albany teamed up to use ultra-modern chemical analysis technology at Rensselaer to analyze ancient Mayan pottery for proof of tobacco use in the ancient culture. Dmitri Zagorevski, director of the Proteomics Core in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) at Rensselaer, and Jennifer Loughmiller-Newman, a doctoral candidate at the University at Albany, have discovered the first physical evidence of tobacco in a Mayan container. Their discovery represents new evidence on the ancient use of tobacco in the Mayan culture and a new method to understand the ancient roots of tobacco use in the Americas. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111113725.htm
Ancient Popcorn in Peru
People living along the coast of Peru were eating popcorn 1,000 years earlier than previously reported and before ceramic pottery was used there, according to a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences co-authored by Dolores Piperno, curator of New World archaeology at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and emeritus staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-ancient-popcorn-peru.html
News from the Archaeology Channel
In the January 2012 installment of the Video News from TAC, we bring you a direct reading of the Maya creation myth from an Eighth Century Guatemalan monument and the unique story of a Greek fountain. See these stories in the January 2012 edition of this monthly half-hour show, available now on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel (http://www.archaeologychannel.org) as well as on cable TV in cities across the US. Launched in October 2010, the Video News from TAC is designed for both online streaming and cable TV distribution.
Thanks to Adrianne Rankin for contributions to this issue of Southwest Archaeology Today.
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