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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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...

Continuing Coverage: How You Can Help Protect Greater Chaco

Dear Friends, On Day 1 of Week 6 of my home containment…I escaped! I went out in my car, I wore my face mask, I went to a couple stores, I didn't sit in a chair in front of my laptop for 9 hours straight…and I realized how fortunate I was to have seen that day out as a respite. How are you...

Continuing Coverage: Interior Moves Public Meetings Online, Does Not Postpone Deadlines

Dear Friends, It’s Tuesday afternoon, and I’m getting ready to moderate our second Archaeology Café Online. Tonight’s program will be with John Welch, who directs Archaeology Southwest’s Landscape and Site Protection Program, and our honored guest, Octavius Seowtewa of Zuni Pueblo. John ...

Federal Report Recommends Uranium Mining near Grand Canyon, Bears Ears

Dear Friends of Southwest Archaeology Today, How are you—how was your week? Probably not unlike yours, mine was not what I had expected it to be a few months ago. This past Wednesday through Sunday, I would have been in Austin, Texas, attending the Society for American Archaeology’s (SAA...

Learning from Ancient Southwestern Farming Cultures

Dear Friends of Southwest Archaeology Today, We made it through our first Archaeology Café Online last week. Thanks to all who joined us, and thanks to Paul Reed for his presentation. We’ve linked to the video and some additional material from Paul in this week’s edition below. On May 5 we�...

Indigenous Landscapes of the Grand Canyon

Dear Friends of Southwest Archaeology Today, I hope this finds you well. My week was brightened by another bit of good news from a Preservation Archaeology Field School alumnus: Kiley Stoj (2018) was awarded a Fulbright, as reported by SUNY Cortland. Congratulations, Kiley. As I write this Tue...

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