2025
16
Sep
Tribal Leaders Push for Chaco Protections
Dear Friends,
Some of you long-timers already know this history, so bear with me for the folks who don’t.
This weekly newsletter, Preservation Archaeology Today, has been around in some form or another for more than two decades.
Its earliest iteration was founded by archaeologist Brian W....
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2025
08
Sep
Continuing Coverage: Smithsonian’s Initial Response
Dear Friends,
This past weekend, I drove to Cortez, Colorado, to attend a beautiful celebration of Dr. William (Bill) Lipe’s life. Bill passed away on April 9, 2025, about a month shy of his 90th birthday. He lived a remarkably full life, as a person and an archaeologist.
The event took plac...
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2025
01
Sep
Tucson’s Big Block Party Was a Big Success
Dear Friends,
On Saturday, August 23, thousands of people gathered in downtown Tucson to celebrate Tucson’s 250th anniversary. The air was hot and the mood was festive. Vendors and exhibitors in and around the Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón showcased the myriad cultures, religions, nationali...
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2025
01
Sep
Hands-On Archaeology: How to Use Lac, the Amazing, Mystical Mastic
We hope you enjoy this post from our most prolific blogger, Allen Denoyer. Thanks for all the great posts, Allen!
Allen Denoyer, Ancient Technologies Expert
(August 29, 2025)—Earlier this year, I shared information about how to ethically harvest lac. Prior to that, conservator Marilen Pool wrote...
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2025
18
Aug
Erasing History at US Museums and Parks
Dear Friends,
The assault continues.
On August 12, the White House announced an unprecedented review of exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution’s 21 museums. Political appointees and administration loyalists—many of whom have little to no museum experience, much less expertise in the sc...
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2025
11
Aug
From the Field School: The Gift of Finding
Sonya Norton, Arizona State University
(July 29, 2025)—Searching for Mimbres rock art at NAN Ranch on a scorching 91-degree day with an extreme UV index of 13 presented a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. The landscape, a typical Southwestern New Mexico high desert shrubland, featu...
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2025
04
Aug
Pecos Conference Convenes This Week
Dear Friends,
In a few days, hundreds of Southwestern archaeologists, including some from Archaeology Southwest, will gather near Blanding, Utah, for the annual Pecos Conference.
The Pecos Conference—then called the Southwestern Archaeology Conference–was first held in August, 1927, in Pec...
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2025
30
Jul
From the Field School: Goodbyes and New Beginnings
Emily Vandian, Glendale Community College
(July 30, 2025)—Yesterday was our goodbye party, and the last time I will see some of the people here. As I am writing this, lying in my bed with my stuff halfway to being packed, I am so glad I had this opportunity. Just a few minutes ago, we helped load...
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2025
30
Jul
From the Field School: A Visit to Hawikku
Jacoby Faust, University of Oklahoma
(July 30, 2025)—Located within the bounds of the Zuni Reservation near Zuni, New Mexico, Hawikku was one of the largest pueblos inhabited by the Zuni people around the time of the Spanish Entrada. Founded around 1400 CE, it was the first Pueblo to be visited a...
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2025
29
Jul
From the Field School: Learning a New Perspective on Museums
Aurelia Brice, University College London
Even before this field school, I was a regular museum-goer. Visiting by myself, I get to take my time and wander, reading all the plaques and taking in the exhibits. Previously, the only thing I knew about museums was what was on display. Now, with my experi...
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2025
29
Jul
From the Field School: Windy City Woman Meets Land of Enchantment
Quetzalli Lomeli, University of Illinois Chicago
(July 29, 2025)—Before coming to this field school with Archeology Southwest, I had never really gotten to experience the outdoors. I love my life in Chicago, but I had gotten so used to the city that it was a big change to experience the landscape...
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2025
29
Jul
From the Field School: Cooked or Burned?
Readers, be aware that this post discusses and shows images of the cooking of packrats.
Hope Siwek, University of Michigan
(July 28, 2025)—Coming into the field school, my mind was spinning as I tried to think of a topic for my research project. I knew I wanted to work on faunal (animal) remains...
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