Utah BLM’s Protection of Ancient Places at San Rafael Swell Apparently Rankles Oil and Gas Industry

Utah BLM’s Protection of Ancient Places at San Rafael Swell Apparently Rankles Oil and Gas Industry
In the story “Industry fires back over pulled oil and gas leases at San Rafael Swell“ (http://bit.ly/1fPCn3w), the Western Energy Alliance claimed that the Utah Rock Art Research Association received special favoritism from Bureau of Land Management Director Juan Palma and his staff. Kathleen Sgamma, a Western Energy Alliance vice president, claimed that Utah Rock Art Research Association did not comply with legal procedures and talked the director into deferring 57 parcels of oil and gas leases in the scenic San Rafael Swell in central Utah. We believe these allegations are unfounded.  http://bit.ly/1gERy4q – Deseret News

Bill to Expand Saguaro National Monument Gains Support
A top Democratic congressman threw his weight this weekend behind a bill to add more than 2,500 acres to Saguaro National Park, and called it a rare example of a public-lands expansion proposal for which no local opposition exists. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon said he will fight hard this year to get a hearing held and to secure approval of fellow Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s bill. DeFazio is the ranking Democrat on the GOP-controlled House Natural Resources Committee. http://bit.ly/1dWZqWR – Arizona Daily Star

The Huffington Post Provides a Guide to National Historic Preservation Programs
“It takes a village…” is a common saying when talking about raising children, but the same is true of historic preservation. No building is saved by one person, organization, or agency alone — it takes a collaborative effort to save a place. But with so many different groups involved, how do you know who does what? And how do you keep them all straight? Today’s toolkit is a primer on who does what in the preservation world, complete with their acronyms (which are, in my opinion, often the most confusing part).
http://huff.to/1fPxfMU

Living History at Presidio San Agustin del Tucson
An explosion shatters the morning calm in downtown Tucson. It’s the sort of savage thunderclap that should invoke panic but instead earns a round of applause. Re-enactors fire the cannon at Presidio San Agustin del Tucson and the crowd claps appreciatively — as soon as the spectators regain their composure. Because even when you’re steeled for it, fingers shoved in ears, the window-rattling blast startles. A gunpowder haze fills the courtyard; a white smoke ring rises above the walls and wafts over the power lines, an exclamation point pinned against an azure sky. http://bit.ly/1kAL1G7 – Arizona Republic

Lecture Opportunity – Casa Grande
Join Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and the Friends of Casa Grande Ruins at noon on Wednesday Feb 5th as Greg McNamee will present Monumental Places: Arizona’s National Parks and Monuments. Arizona is home to some of America’s most iconic national parks.  Greg will discuss some of Arizona’s natural and cultural treasures. The lecture is open to the public with general admission fees and will take place at the Casa Grande Ruins visitor center auditorium located at 1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ. For more information and a schedule of upcoming speakers, please visit http://1.usa.gov/1dfEizf, or call (520) 723-3172.

Lecture Opportunity – Phoenix
On February 14, at 12:00 PM, Gary Huckleberry will present Why We Study Prehistoric Canals: A Geoarchaeological Perspective at the Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 East Washington St.

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars presents Land Grants, Trails and People in Southeast Santa Fe, a lecture by Steve Post on February 10 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Ancient Sites Ancient Stories I Lecture Series held to honor and acknowledge the work of the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies, Museum of New Mexico. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary and refreshments are served. Contact Connie Eichstaedt for information: tel: (505) 466-2775 email: southwest seminar@aol.com website: http://bit.ly/YhJddr

Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
At 6 p.m. Thursday February 20 Professor Greg Hodgins presents “Carbon 14 Dating, from the Earliest Dog to the World’s Most Mysterious Manuscript” at Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Third Thursday Food for Thought” dinner at Amber Restaurant, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson. Carbon dating is a fundamental tool for interpreting human history. This talk describes how carbon dating works and provides examples of how it contributes to our understanding of past human existence. Seating is limited to comply with the Fire Code so to attend you must call 520-798-1201 and have your reservation confirmed before 5 p.m. Wednesday January 15.

Reminder: Archaeology Cafe (Tucson) – Rio Nuevo Archaeology
On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, Bill Doelle and Homer Thiel (Desert Archaeology, Inc.) will explore what we have learned about Tucson’s history from archaeology projects in the Rio Nuevo district. We gather after 5:00 p.m., and presentations begin by 6:15 p.m. Seating is open and unreserved, but limited. The event is free. Please support our hosts at Casa Vicente (375 S. Stone) by ordering refreshments from the menu.

Thanks to Cherie Freeman for contributions to this week’s SAT newsletter.