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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Archaeology Southwest Pilot Survey Informs on Chaco Protection Zone

Dear Friends, This past Saturday was National Public Lands Day. I pretty seriously threw out my back on Friday, so I wasn’t up for a hike to celebrate this special day. But I did watch an amazing documentary on Patagonia’s YouTube site: “Public Trust: The Fight for America’s Public Lands....

Last Chance to Protect Greater Chaco?

Dear Friends, This week, Greater Chaco continues to be our lead story. If the amended resource management plan developed by the Bureau of Land Management goes forward, future oil and gas extraction directly threatens archaeological sites and other places sacred to Tribes over an extensive area ...

Take Action Now to Protect Greater Chaco

Dear Friends, Buckle up. There are research reports to read, urgent calls to advocacy to pursue, and a variety of lectures and books to keep you busy. We lead with Paul Reed’s call for action to protect Greater Chaco, because it is time sensitive. Comments on the BLM’s resource management ...

George Frison Passes

Dear Friends, Less than three months ago, my note to you linked to a blog post I published on June 17 that called on conscientious individuals and organizations to do more than simply post statements of support for Black Lives Matter. Compared to the magnitude of confronting America’s systemi...

Feds Urged to Extend Public Process for Greater Chaco Management Plans

Dear Friends, Thanks to those of you who shared your own love of maps in reply to my note from last week. Maps, books, art—what’s not to love? As I read through the stories for today’s edition, I again felt distressed by the continuing loss of water at Quitobaquito Springs. As climat...

Radiocarbon Dating’s New Calibration Curve

Dear Friends, Hopefully you have been feeling in need of a map. Because today I am going to indulge my love of maps and share some of the fun several of us at Archaeology Southwest have been having recently. I have been undertaking some fairly standard archaeological mapping of ancient agricul...

“Then, Now, and Forever: Zuni in the Grand Canyon” Film Released on YouTube

Dear Friends, In 1986, the first issue of the newsletter that became Archaeology Southwest Magazine featured the charter members of the company that became Archaeology Southwest taking a tour of the Romero Ruin. The site is located in Catalina State Park on Tucson’s north side. Since then, I...

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 ...

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