2017
23
Aug
A Target, or a Shield?
Bill Doelle, President & CEO
(August 23, 2017)—A giant target hovers over Bears Ears National Monument. And many are gathered to cast their darts. Some, with fierce intention, will aim at the bullseye, confident that piercing the smallest circle will eliminate the new national monument al...
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2017
16
Jun
Archaeology Southwest Opposes Zinke Recommendations on Bears Ears
(June 16, 2017)—Archaeology Southwest joins sovereign tribal nations, local and national conservation organizations, and citizen stakeholders in opposing the recommendations put forth in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s interim report on Bears Ears National Monument (BENM) dated June 10, 2017.
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2017
12
May
For Bears Ears, Our National Monuments, and the Antiquities Act
Bill Doelle, President & CEO
(May 12, 2017)—The outraged community had the Swedish scientist arrested.
The scientist, Gustav Nordenskiöld (1868–1895), had undertaken quite good archaeological excavations, by today’s standards, at cliff dwellings in southwestern Colorado’s Mesa ...
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2016
07
Oct
A Special Person, Two Places, and My Dog
As International Archaeology Day (October 15, 2016) approaches, we're celebrating by sharing posts about what we're working on now—the daily work of archaeology. But the author of today's very special post, we're happy to note, is, for once, NOT working!
Bill Doelle, President & CEO
...
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2015
22
Oct
Carrying Gila Bend to Washington and Making “National Significance” Personal
Bill Doelle, President & CEO
(October 22, 2015)—As the month of September drew to a close, a group of 13 set out early on a gray Washington, D.C. morning to fulfill an educational mission. We assembled at 7:00 a.m. at the offices of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Our team memb...
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2015
09
Oct
The Reluctant Archaeologist and Archaeology as a Gateway
Between now and October 17, 2015, Archaeology Southwest is participating in the Archaeological Institute of America's celebration of International Archaeology Day (10/17/15) by sharing blog posts about why—or how—we became archaeologists. We hope you enjoy this very personal look at our staff me...
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2014
04
Dec
Putting the People Back in Camp Naco
By Bill Doelle, President & CEO
Camp Naco saw more than 500 visitors in the two days after Thanksgiving as part of the annual Bisbee Home Tour. That’s more people than were ever stationed there at one time!
The association of Archaeology Southwest with Camp Naco started a decade ago when Be...
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2013
12
Sep
Back to the 70s—Enjoying an Archaeological Preserve
By Bill Doelle, President & CEO
Back to the 70s—I am talking temperatures, desert temperatures. Last weekend, daytime temperatures around Tucson kept to the high 70s for much of the day. For me, that means that hiking in the desert is once again possible. My time is always limited, s...
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2013
05
Sep
Paradise by the Antiquities Act
By Bill Doelle, President & CEO
Paradise is defined many ways. For me, spending last week away from a cell phone and the rest of the electronic world was paradise. My personal paradise was at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It can’t get much better than that!
Grand Canyon National...
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2013
11
Aug
No New Ruins — A Plea from a Stubborn Optimist
By Bill Doelle, President & CEO
Sometimes, archaeologists can prevent ruins. Yes, I said prevent, not preserve. Camp Naco is teaching me life lessons about just how hard it can be to prevent ruins.
After working with a devoted team of ruin preventers for the past eight years, it is time...
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2013
25
Jul
The Casa Grande Community—In More Ways than One!
By Bill Doelle, President & CEO
Community. Just when cynicism seems at its most pervasive, I am glad to see that community spirit can still shine through. It certainly infuses the new legislation for the expansion of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
A bipartisan group of Arizona Re...
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2013
06
Jun
Raise the Roof! (Preservation Archaeology-style)
By Bill Doelle, President & CEO
Finally, it is happening. The hard-luck adobe camp that was part of a “human fence along the border” right after World War I is getting some of the preservation treatments it has needed for two decades. A grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)...
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