Southwest Archaeology Today

Southwest Archaeology Today (SAT) is a free, weekly e-mail news digest. In addition to sharing regional archaeology news, events, opportunities, and publications, SAT connects readers with news and commentary on U.S. public lands policy, global heritage protection and preservation, and the peopling of the North and South American continents. Review our submission guidelines here.

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Continuing Coverage: The Return of the Acoma Shield

Dear Friends, I’ll be brief today because there is so much of interest in today’s edition. We're pleased to share powerful journalism from High Country News as our lead item. This is an affecting and in-depth story of cultural patrimony long separated from the Acoma Pueblo community. If you c...

House Passes Amendment to Extend Moratorium on Oil-Gas Development in Chaco Buffer Zone

Dear Friends, Two weeks ago I shared that I, some of our staff, and esteemed partners were intensely focused on Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. I wrote during a lull as we awaited feedback from our authors on their edited articles and our graphics. Author reviews and comments were pretty pos...

Continuing Coverage: Destruction of Sacred Lands along the Border

Dear Friends, This week I am celebrating—and indulging in—my addiction. To books. The celebration is because I am almost done populating my new wall of built-in bookshelves in my home office. It’s wonderful to have the information sources I need just three feet away from my desk. And ...

Continuing Coverage: Administration to Announce “Revisions” to Bedrock Environmental Law

Dear Friends, This past week, a four-story adobe building built in the early 1300s and known today as the Casa Grande has consumed many hours of my time. On Monday of last week, the manuscript for the reissue of our 2009 Archaeology Southwest Magazine on the Casa Grande Community was turned ove...

Commentary: Oil-Gas Leasing Would Encroach on Arches, Canyonlands, Bears Ears

Dear Friends, For the second week in a row, I ventured from my home office. This time, only for a few hours. I “ventured” to the eye doctor, because I really needed some new glasses. I wore a mask. And all the people in the office wore masks. It turned out the technician fitting me for my ...

Lessons, not Warnings, from the Past

Dear Friends, Working from home since mid-March has taken its toll. I had a chance to break out for almost 24 hours, and it was almost heavenly. On this last day of June, I went to Gila Bend and a bit beyond. (I realize you are all incredibly jealous! The weather was even unseasonably cool—only...

Commentary: Border Wall Desecrates Sacred Places, Violates Religious Freedom

Dear Friends, As I write, it’s hard to be upbeat here in Arizona this evening. COVID-19 is surging, regularly breaking daily records of new cases. Earlier today, President Trump came to Yuma to celebrate the border wall, followed by an indoor rally in Phoenix. Indigenous residents in this...

Senate Vote on Great American Outdoors Act May Come This Week

Dear Friends, How are you today? It has been a week of serious introspection for me, ordering thoughts and finding words. I knew I had an important first step to take: acknowledging my role in systemic racism. I've gathered these thoughts into a blog post I hope you'll read (click here for tha...

CyberSW 1.0 Launches

Dear Friends, These are uncomfortable times. Even deeply discouraging times. But momentum toward change is palpable. To minimize discouragement, this week we dropped several links to articles on the business-as-usual of the administration and various federal agencies. And, looking forwa...

Tribal Leaders Oppose Virtual Meetings

Dear Friends, This feels like a week for few words. For months we have been taking unprecedented measures to try to keep us all safe. And yet, the death toll in the U.S. inflicted by the novel coronavirus is well over 100,000. We view history and anthropology as tools, as ways to understand...

Continuing Coverage: Feds Extend Deadline for Greater Chaco Comments to September 25

Dear Friends, Good news in today’s headline—Interior Secretary Bernhardt did the right thing. The deadline to comment on the revised management plan for Greater Chaco has been extended to September 25. Paul Reed has updated our information on making and submitting those comments. You can revi...

Continuing Coverage: Feds’ Refusal to Postpone Chaco Deadline Fuels Outrage

Dear Friends, Do you need a pick-me-up? Today I offer two. First, your weekly bird note. This began with my friend and colleague John Welch, who directs Archaeology Southwest’s Landscape and Site Preservation Program. (If you missed John’s Archaeology Café Online two weeks ago, you can ca...

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