Preservation Archaeology Today

Preservation Archaeology Today (PAT) is a free, weekly e-mail news digest. In addition to sharing regional archaeology news, events, opportunities, and publications, PAT 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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Banner image: Paul Vanderveen

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US Court Suspends Chaco-Area Drilling Permits

Dear Friends, It’s actually enjoyable to work for an entire weekend when you are in the company of 10 bright and engaging colleagues and you can take breaks to commune with the Canyon Phoebes, Spotted Towhees, Red-Winged Blackbirds, and a leisurely grazing herd of deer. It all happened last ...

Commentary: Museums Should Stop Exhibiting Human Bodies

Dear Friends, I spend a good bit of time in the early morning taking in different media. There’s my current audiobook during my workout on the elliptical and before my coffee. I usually finish a chapter while nursing that cup of coffee. Then it’s time to consume some newspaper content—digit...

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians to Co-Steward Joshua Tree National Park

Dear Friends, The energy transition is going to have a major effect on elements of our everyday material culture. Trying to get rid of the gas meter in front of my house has brought this home to me. I haven’t been connected to the gas pipe that’s buried under my street for three full years...

Report: Major Museums Not in Compliance with NAGPRA

Dear Friends, This week, I’m back in Pennsylvania—mostly on vacation. It has given me time to catch up on reading. (And a chance to rake up some lingering fall leaves and make a compost pile at my daughter’s place.) My reading choices were all suggestions by others and were influenced...

Infrastructure Push Brings Archaeologists to the Fore

Dear Friends, I often mention birds in these notes. I find birds compelling. They are remarkably diverse. Often stunningly beautiful. Many species are visible in the daytime. And they are connected to the land. I’ve lived in my current home for 40 years. Only in the past two years have Bl...

Congressional Research Service Releases Report on Antiquities Act

Dear Friends, I greatly enjoyed having a full week off as 2022 wrapped up. It was a quiet week of few tasks. Bordering on lazy. It felt good, and it was restorative. I hope that you all had some peace and quiet, too. I did reflect a bit while I was relaxing, and I thought about this season�...

Record Funding Levels for US Conservation Projects

Dear Friends, As we've been growing into our Preservation Archaeology mission and practice over the years, advocacy has grown in importance at Archaeology Southwest. Our current work to promote a Great Bend of the Gila National Conservation Area (NCA) has consumed much of my time over the past...

The Case for an African American Repatriation Act

Dear Friends, When your goal is to preserve special places, good ideas are rarely enough. They are the starting point for beginning the unceasing hard work required to implement them. Persistence pays off…but sometimes it takes a very long time. Last week, we congratulated the...

U.S. Senate Passes the STOP Act

Dear Friends, My message today is simple: Thank you. Last week, I highlighted the GoFundMe campaign to support Hell’s Backbone Grill and Farm in Boulder, Utah. I described it as an essential element (ingredient?) of the ecosystem of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The campaig...

Breaking: Biden to Declare Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

Dear Friends, I’ll get to a story about a gentle Buddhist woman and her “fly pistol” in a bit, but first I need to tell you about intervening in public lands court cases. Last week, we highlighted that the Tribes of the Bears Ears Coalition filed to intervene in the two lawsuits brought ...

Report: Administration Should Create or Expand 16 National Monuments and Marine Sanctuaries

Dear Friends, I’m picking up on a theme in today’s news stories—continuing coverage. I’m still thinking about Earth’s 8 billion human residents. Last week, I shared my relief that current data showed that the rate of growth of global population had declined to less than 1 percent fro...

Where Do You Fit in among the 8 Billion?

Dear Friends, Here’s a big piece of news. As of this moment—or perhaps yesterday—there are 8 billion people living on our planet. I have a long-term interest in population growth, but my focus on it today actually derives from the location of the washing machine and dryer in my home. ...

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