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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Grand Canyon Protection Act Introduced in Senate

Dear Friends, I keep returning to the themes that Scientific American called on the Biden administration to prioritize: COVID-19, climate change, respect for science, and respectful discourse. The latter three issues are highlighted in today’s link to an article by Judy Fahys on Interior’s ...

Grand Canyon Protection Act Would Make Mining Ban Permanent

Dear Friends, COVID news seems to trend from hopeful to frightful on a continual cycle. The uncertainty is unsettling. Nevertheless, my confidence grows, buoyed by clear evidence that the new administration is taking the pandemic very seriously. For quite some time now, most of the news from o...

Help Stop Crimes against History on Tribal Lands

Dear Friends, Are you under 30? Do you have children or grandchildren who are under 20? (My grandkids are 6 and 8.) I ask because anyone younger than 20 or 30 years old should live at least another half-century. And there is a lot of uncertainty in those next 50 years. Yes, as promised, I am r...

An Enlightening and Hopeful Conversation with Sally Jewell

Dear Friends, I ended last week’s note with a call: Let’s get to work! This week, I’d like to take a big-picture view of the work that needs doing. I find the latest issue of Scientific American very helpful. The editors identify the four most pressing science priorities for the...

It’s Time to Permanently Protect the Greater Chaco Landscape

Dear Friends, Last week’s list of fresh words I hope we'll be using more going forward was a bit too short. Here are the contributions of your word-savvy fellow readers. Compliance (as say, for mandatory masks) Humor (as in, good humor) (2) Tolerance Thankfulness, Gratefulness, Gratit...

Hopes for Restorations and Protections

Dear Friends, May you find occasion to use these words—increasingly—from today forward. Commitment Sacrifice Reverence Confidence Resilience Perseverance Persistence Diligence Resolve Steadfastness Restoration Optimism Engagement Hope Realism Respect Honor Honesty Rea...

Utah’s Grand County Commission Asks Biden Administration to Restore Bears Ears

Dear Friends, What a difference a week makes. My optimism of last week has been…deflated. But not suffocated. I expected 2021 to bring a heavy workload toward healing. Sadly, the load is heavier than I anticipated. So, I plan to work harder. And I hope to work smarter. There ar...

Federal Appropriations Bill Includes Chaco Protection

Dear Friends, The calendar page has turned and a new year is underway. On New Year’s Day, Linda Mayro, Director of Pima County’s Office of Sustainability and Conservation—and my wife—led me on an “expedition” to explore an archaeological site along the Santa Cruz River south of Tucs...

Congresswoman Debra Haaland Nominated to Be Next Secretary of the Interior

Dear Friends, This day after the winter solstice, the sun is setting. Things are quieting down—thankfully. I crammed the typical weekly Zoom hours into two days. It’s time for a break. Time for rest and reflection. At Archaeology Southwest, 2021 looks promising. We’re planning t...

Continuing Coverage: Fighting for Oak Flat

Dear Friends, It has been another long day in the field. But I’m not complaining—for me, these days out on the desert landscape are days of renewal, experiences that reignite my passion for what I do. Focusing my eyes on the ground so I don’t miss subtle, centuries-old physical remnants ...

San Juan County Commission Asks Incoming Administration to Restore Bears Ears

Dear Friends, I’ve long been interested in the historical role of archaeological nonprofit organizations in the United States (yes, there are many). And annually, during this stretch between Thanksgiving and the New Year, nonprofits send out year-end letters asking for support. Following my i...

Turkey Feather Blanket Analyzed

Dear Friends, I’ve been thinking about the articles you’ll be reading in this edition. It’s a bit earlier in the day than I usually write to you, as there’s an Archaeology Café coming up in a little bit tonight. I think you'll especially enjoy it—video soon. You know, I find tod...

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