2021
25
Mar
Archaeology Southwest Supports Leasing Reform
Taos N.M (March 25, 2021)—This afternoon, the Department of the Interior held a public forum as part of its comprehensive review of the federal oil and gas program. The forum highlighted perspectives from industry, labor and environmental justice organizations, natural resource advocates, Indige...
more
2021
28
Jan
Leasing Pause Is Important First Step
Taos, N.M. (January 28, 2021)—Yesterday, President Biden signed an executive order pausing new oil and gas leasing on federal public lands and offshore water (section 208 of the order). The Department of Interior has been charged with reviewing current leasing and permitting practices.
Archaeol...
more
2020
10
Nov
Archaeology Southwest Responds to Draft of FY2021 Interior Appropriations Bill
Taos, N.M. (November 10, 2020)—Today, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies released a draft of the FY2021 Interior Appropriations Bill. It does not include the current language that prohibits leasing inside the Chaco buffer zone.
On behalf of...
more
2020
29
Sep
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....
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
19
May
It’s Time to Make Ourselves Heard and Protect Greater Chaco—UPDATE
Paul F. Reed, Preservation Archaeologist
Go here for current information as of September 15, 2020.
(May 21, 2020)—Everyone’s efforts to get the May 28 deadline extended have paid off! We now have until September 25, 2020, to work on comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Bure...
more
2020
31
Mar
Extend Deadline for Public Commentary on Management Plans for Greater Chaco
Dear Friends of Southwest Archaeology Today,
First, thank you for subscribing. Although Archaeology Southwest has closed its physical offices for now, our staff members are working remotely and doing their best to keep everything on schedule. We are committed to staying connected with you. We’r...
more
2020
28
Jan
Continuing Coverage: Chaco Buffer Zone
Continuing Coverage: Chaco Buffer Zone
Months after the U.S. House passed a bill that would create a long-sought, 10-mile drilling ban on federal land around Chaco Culture National Historical Park, the Navajo Nation is demanding Congress cut the proposed protection zone in half. The Navajo Nation C...
more
2019
26
Dec
Congressional Spending Bill Includes Protection for Greater Chaco
Congressional Spending Bill Includes Protection for Greater Chaco
The U.S. Senate has approved a $1.4 trillion spending package for the 2020 fiscal year. The White House has said that the president will sign the legislation. Importantly, the legislation includes interim protections for the landscap...
more
2019
20
Dec
Congressional Spending Bill Includes Protection for Greater Chaco
Provisional ten-mile buffer zone passes; president is expected to sign
Taos, N.M. (December 20, 2019)—The U.S. Senate has approved a $1.4 trillion spending package for the 2020 fiscal year. The White House has said that the president will sign the legislation. Importantly, the legislation include...
more
2019
17
Dec
Why Protect a 10-Mile Zone around Chaco Culture National Historical Park?
Paul F. Reed, Preservation Archaeologist
(December 17, 2019)—Recently, there has been some debate about the value of protecting a 10-mile zone around Chaco Culture National Historical Park (henceforth Chaco or Chaco Park) and two of its outlying communities.
Some have suggested that a smalle...
more
2019
16
Oct
The Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR) Welcomes New Director
The Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR) Welcomes New Director
Greetings! My name is Chris Nicholson and this month (October 1st) I was hired to be the new Executive Director at the Center for Digital Antiquity and tDAR. I come to Digital Antiquity from the University of Wyoming, where I served as ...
more
Show More