Southwest Archaeology Today for March 26, 2007

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

– The Ancient History of Phoenix Remains Evident at Pueblo Grande: In a city where you’re practically a native if you moved here before 1990, where historical neighborhoods are mere decades old, you can be excused for thinking the Valley lacks true historical context. But if you know where to look, the area has roots that go back not hundreds, but thousands of years. And you’ll find that evidence just a few miles east of downtown Phoenix at Pueblo Grande Museum. The archaeological site and museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the culture of the Hohokam, who lived in the Salt River Valley for more than 1,000 years, then packed up and left.
http://www.cdarc.org/page/9zmc – Arizona Republic

– Lecture (Salt Lake City): “House of Rain” Author CRAIG CHILDS, will speak Tuesday, 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 211 S. 500 East, sponsored by the library and the Utah Center for the Book. He will discuss the world of the Anasazi people, an ancient civilization whose disappearance has been considered one of archaeology’s great mysteries. – From Deseret News

– Public Archaeology at Vista del Rio Cultural Park (Tucson): A thousand years ago, the Tucson area was still a favored place to live. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see an archaeological preserve among new housing developments, evidence of early Tucsonans. One such example is the Vista del Rio Cultural Park, unearthed in 1978 near the corner of Tanque Verde and Dos Hombres roads. Portable tents and umbrellas, archaeologists and families interested in learning more about the sort of people that walked on the same ground a millennium ago now populate the 8-acre area. The event, presented by Marana-based Old Pueblo Archaeology, occurs during the Arizona Archaeology Awareness Month.
http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/17935

– Prehistoric Burial Found during Construction in Alamogordo: The state Historic Preservation Division has been called in after a construction crew in Alamogordo unearthed human bones and pottery while digging a trench.
http://www.newschannel10.com/global/story.asp?s=6267031

– Reminder: The National Park Service will be soliciting public comments on the Future of the National Park system at a public meeting in Tucson, Wednesday, March 28.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/46057.php

– Arizona State Museum Archaeology Month Lectures and Events: Tuesday, March 27: A Century of Preserving Mesa Verde, Kathleen Fiero.. Arizona State Museum, North building room 309, 7 p.m., Free. Books available for purchase.

Thursday, March 29: A Sneak Peak at ASM’s Interpretive Gallery! ASM Staff.Tour ASM’s “wall of pots”– the first phase of the Pottery Project Interpretive Gallery. Arizona State Museum, North building, 7p.m., Free. Limit 30 people. RSVP to Darlene Lizarraga at 520-626-8381.

Saturday, March 31 Calling All Critters! ASM’s First Annual Animal Bone Identification Day 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Arizona State Museum, North building, rooms 309 and 311A, Free. ASM zooarchaeologist Barnet Pavao-Zuckerman hosts this first-time-ever event to identify that animal bone you picked up years ago while hiking. Learn also about southwestern zooarchaeology and the laws that protect archaeological and paleontological sites. Tour the museum’s unparalleled vertebrate collection. Activities for kids of all ages. Free and open to the public. No human remains, please, just critters.