2020
09
Jul
Putting the People Back into Wilderness
Maxwell Forton, Binghamton University
(July 9, 2020)—Normally this week I’d be wrapping up teaching survey on Archaeology Southwest’s Preservation Archaeology Field School. The past two summers, I’ve had the pleasure of leading our intrepid students in archaeological surveys in the Gila N...
more
2020
08
Jul
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 ...
more
2020
03
Jul
Hands-On Archaeology: How to Make a Discoidal Cutting Tool
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
(July 3, 2020)—This project involved flintknapping, whittling, and drilling.
I started with a roughly circular piece of rhyolite I’d gathered in Mule Creek, New Mexico. I flaked it into a biface, then thinned it so t...
more
2020
30
Jun
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...
more
2020
23
Jun
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...
more
2020
23
Jun
What Do Geoarchaeologists Do?
Karen Schollmeyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Director, Preservation Archaeology Field School
(June 23, 2020)—Today's (Un)Field School presentation is by internationally recognized geoscientist Gary Huckleberry. We've been fortunate to have Gary come to the Preservation Archaeology Field ...
more
2020
23
Jun
Grant Award from NEH Funds Tribal Petroglyphs Team
Following on recent field research, specialists from the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe will begin analysis and compilation project with Archaeology Southwest
Tucson, Ariz. (June 23, 2020)—Archaeology Southwest is pleased to announce that it has received a generous $114,219 grant award from the N...
more
2020
22
Jun
Welcome to (Un)Field School
Karen Schollmeyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Director, Preservation Archaeology Field School
(June 22, 2020)—Is your tent (blanket fort?) set up? That has to come first. Next is your camp chair. Pick a good spot. You have enough water? OK.
Usually at this time of year, this blog featu...
more
2020
16
Jun
From Bill Doelle
(June 17, 2020)—The Statement. Email after email these days from retailers to service providers to nonprofit organizations are making explicit statements that Black Lives Matter. Why haven’t I pushed for the organization I founded and still lead to make such a statement?
Because I believe the...
more
2020
16
Jun
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...
more
2020
12
Jun
A Brief Cultural History of Mesquite
Aaron Wright, Preservation Archaeologist
(June 12, 2020)—Since moving to Tucson, I find June to be a welcome time of transition. The atmosphere shifts from hot and dry at the beginning to, well, hotter, but not so dry by the end as the summer monsoon sets in. Usually as the spring semester at...
more
2020
09
Jun
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...
more
Show More