Southwest Archaeology Today for Nov. 15, 2006

Archaeology Making the News – A Service of the Center for Desert Archaeology:

– New Mexico in 3D: The Chacoan Sun Dagger and other Archaeological Topics will be the focus of the New Mexico Geographic Information Council. Anna Sofaer reports.that includes a presentation at 10:15 am of our new interactive computer graphics model of the Sun Dagger site by the major players who developed it. It is a nice opportunity for us to share the model and its many research tools with people interested in Chaco and its astronomical expressions. The program also includes a presentation by Rich Friedman of his virtual reconstruction of the central complex of Chaco (2-3 pm), and a showing of our film “The Mystery of Chaco Canyon” (9 -10 am).
http://nmgic.unm.edu/nmgcmeet_fall2006.html

– Discussion (Tucson): Indios y Californios on the Anza Trail: A Symposium. Thursday, November 16, 2006, 7 p.m., Free. Arizona Historical Society Auditorium 949 East 2nd Street. Moderated by Malcolm Margolin, founder of the Heyday Institute and publisher of Heyday Books. Reception and book signing follow the
roundtable discussion. Please join the Arizona State Museum for an extraordinary gathering of Anza experts, telling the story of the Anza Trail from the point of view of the hidden voices of Native Americans, women, and early settlers.

– “Reclaiming Our Heritage, The Monacan Indian Nation of Virginia”, a New Video on the Archaeology Channel: Many Native American groups in North America are working hard to reconnect with a cultural legacy that was nearly lost. A case in point is conveyed by Reclaiming Our Heritage: The Monacan Indian Nation of Virginia, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel
http://www.archaeologychannel.org

– Lecture (Phoenix): Free Public Lecture on the Platform Mounds in the Salt and Gila River Valleys: Thursday November 16, 2006, 7:00 p.m. at Pueblo Grande Museum. Dr. Todd Bostwick of Pueblo Grande Museum and Dr. Jerry Howard of Mesa Southwest Museum will discuss the archaeology of the platform mounds and the Hohokam people of Mesa Grande and Pueblo Grande. Made possible, in part, by a grant from the Arizona Humanities Council. http://www.cdarc.org/pages/what/exhibits/from_above.php

– Lecture (Tucson): Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society lecture series presents John Madsen, “In Search of Spanish Trails” November 20, 2006 at the University Medical Center, Duval Auditorium at 7:30 pm.

– Tour Opportunity Tuesday November 21, 2006 (only 2 spaces left); and again Tuesday February 13, 2007: “Ancient History of the Middle Gila Valley” Pima Community College study tour ST147, CRN 70565B, with archaeologist Allen Dart via passenger van departing from Pima Community College, 401 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. $69 Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s director, archaeologist Allen Dart, leads van tour to Coolidge-Florence area: This tour includes close-up visit to the “backcountry area” of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument where you’ll see a Hohokam ballcourt, platform mound, huge trash mounds, an “horno” (large roasting pit), and historical stagecoach road normally off-limits to the visiting public. Tour also features visits to the main Casa Grande Ruins and museum, the Grewe Hohokam site near Casa Grande Ruins, the Adamsville Hohokam ruin’s ballcourt and platform mound, the historic Adamsville Cemetery, an outlying Tohono O’odham village between Coolidge and Florence, historic architecture of downtown Florence, and the Pinal County Historical Society Museum in Florence. Bring a lunch and water.
Advance reservations required: 520-206-6468 (Pima Community College, Tucson)