2023
18
Mar
How Did People Make and Use Atlatls?
You will make a replica atlatl and an expedient dart in this class. Hunters in the distant past used the atlatl to propel the dart and shaft. Our atlatls will be made of oak, using archaeological examples from the Southwest. The darts will be simple so that participants have a dart to shoot when the...
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2022
19
Feb
How Did People Make and Use Atlatls?
In this class, you will make a replica atlatl and an expedient dart. Hunters in the distant past used the atlatl to propel the dart and shaft. Patterned after archaeological examples known from the Southwest, our atlatls will be made of oak. Our darts will be very simple, so that participants have a...
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2020
28
Dec
What's the Point: Making an Impact
This is the first post in a new series called "What's the Point?" Allen Denoyer and other stone tool experts will be exploring various aspects of technologies and traditions.
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
(December 28, 2020)—In this post, I want ...
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2020
04
Apr
Postponed: How Did People Make and Use Atlatls?
UPDATE (3/16/2020): This class has been postponed until further notice. Learn more.
In this class, you will make a replica atlatl and an expedient dart. Hunters in the distant past used the atlatl to propel the dart and shaft. Patterned after archaeological examples known from the Southwest, ou...
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2019
13
Jun
Learning Livelihoods
This post is one in our annual series of essays by our Preservation Archaeology Field School students. We invite you to follow along with their experiences over the next six weeks through their own words.
Kristin Bridges, College of New Jersey
(June 13, 2019)—My background in the field of arch...
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2019
12
Mar
One Million Acres Protected
Breaking News: President Signs Significant Package of Public Lands Legislation—A Million Acres Protected
Statement: “National Conservation Lands are the big winners with this legislation, and when public lands win, we all win. These treasured places provide clean air and water, critical wildlif...
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2019
26
Jan
Hands-On Archaeology: Atlatls at Mission Garden
Ancient technologies expert Allen Denoyer will be sharing his knowledge of atlatl-making and atlatl-throwing at Mission Garden in Tucson on Saturday, January 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Donations welcome at the entry gate.
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2017
20
Jun
Experimental Archaeology: Basketmaker Atlatl
Stephen Uzzle, Cochise College
June 20, 2017—One of the best ways to understand how ancient peoples lived is to study experimental archaeology. Experimental archaeology is reconstructing tools made by ancient peoples using the same means they used to create them. The atlatl was a game-changing ad...
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2016
08
Mar
A Fine Day at Himdag Ki
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
(March 8, 2016)—On February 26, a group of us gathered under an expansive mesquite ramada at Himdag Ki, the Tohono O’odham Cultural Center and Museum in Topawa, Arizona. I had been invited to show the group how to make at...
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2015
29
Sep
Making Atlatls
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
(September 30, 2015)—We carved atlatls again at this past summer's Preservation Archaeology Field School, but this year the students had to use stone tools for the carving work. Previously, we used modern hand tools like wo...
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2015
10
Jun
Construction of Ancient Weapons
Devinne Fackelman, Grand Valley State University
A few days ago, I was given the opportunity to construct two common and well-used ancient weapons: a dart point (kind of like an arrowhead, but not used with an arrow) and an atlatl. I had flintknapped and thrown an atlatl dart in the past, but not t...
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2014
17
Nov
Draw, Scan, Make, and Model: Complementary Approaches to Understanding Stone Tools
Lance K. Trask, Scientific Illustrator and Archaeology Southwest Member
There has been a shift from publishing scientific illustrations of artifacts to publishing photographs. Although there are a number of reasons for this, the primary one is that technical illustrations are a unique art form, and ...
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