Steve Lekson to be Honored by the Roy Chapman Andrews Society

Steve Lekson to be Honored by the Roy Chapman Andrews Society
Archaeologist Steve Lekson is changing the past, or at least our ideas about the past. His work at prehistoric ruins throughout the Southwest convinces him that ancient Native American societies were more complex, connected, and cosmopolitan than the average textbook leads us to believe. Dr. Lekson, a professor and curator of anthropology at the University of Colorado, will discuss his explorations, discoveries, and controversial ideas when he receives the 2011 Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award. The award and acceptance lecture, “The Rhythm of Regional Interaction in the Ancient Southwest,” will be presented in a public ceremony on Friday, February 4, at 4:30 p.m. in Eaton Chapel on the Beloit College campus in Beloit, Wisconsin.
http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/Archaeologist_to_Receive_Roy_Chapman_Andrews_Society_Award_108502609.html

Stevenson’s 1879 Expedition to Zuni
In the summer of 1879, the newly founded Bureau of American Ethnology in Washington, D.C., sent a research expedition to the Southwest. Its mission was to study the religion and sociology of New Mexico’s Zuni Pueblo and collect cultural artifacts, especially ceremonial objects. Noted ethnologist James Stevenson, the expedition’s head, was accompanied by his wife, Matilda (Tilly) Coxe Stevenson, 22-year-old Frank H. Cushing and the eminent photographer J.K. Hillers.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Hospitality–enables-D-C–researchers-to-take-Zuni-relics

Meetings in Las Vegas to Examine Ways to Support Public Land Conservation
Starting Friday, the Conservation Lands Foundation, along with its friends and supporters, followed by the Bureau of Land Management, will gather in Las Vegas to consider the future management and direction of these spectacular places. Having been set aside and designated for protection, this newest conservation system is still young and vulnerable. The special interests that see these lands in terms of dollars to be extracted are still powerful. The BLM still needs to codify and enforce policies to show it is capable of caring for the treasures entrusted to it.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/nov/10/protected-lands-still-remain-vulnerable/

Hiking to Art Galleries
gasped when I turned the corner in Horseshoe Canyon and took my first glimpse of the unearthly, barrel-shaped figures that archeologists associate with the Barrier Canyon style of archaic art. It’s hard not to gasp at First Nations graffiti that dates back as far 1800 B.C. Most of these figures are painted. Some are etched into stone. Several have hollowed-out eyes and three-dimensional patterns within their bodies, created through the use of both etching and painting.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/take-a-hike-to-the-art-gallery-106814298.html

Nominations for the Fred Plog Memorial Fellowship Due December 10th
An award of $1,000 is presented in memory of the late Fred Plog to support the research of an ABD who is writing a dissertation on the North American Southwest or northern Mexico or on a topic, such as culture change or regional interactions, on which Fred Plog did research. http://saa.org/AbouttheSociety/Awards/FredPlogMemorialFellowship/tabid/171/Default.aspx.

Keyhole Sink Petroglyphs Cleaned, but some Traces of the Damage will be Permanent.
The careful cleanup of a rock bearing petroglyphs in Arizona nevertheless probably left behind a permanent mark, an archaeologist said Thursday. The etchings on the wall of petroglyphs in Keyhole Sink, a box canyon near Williams, had been, until recently, undisturbed for at least 1,000 years, the Arizona Republic reported. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/11/18/Petroglyph-graffiti-cleanup-leaves-mark/UPI-28821290128276/

Efforts Continue to Preserve Mesa’s Buckhorn Baths
The effort to preserve the historic Buckhorn Baths spa in east Mesa reportedly is still on track despite owner Alice Sliger’s death. A new preservation foundation was formed this year with the Buckhorn its top priority, said Vic Linoff, a longtime historic activist and Mesa resident.  http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_southeast_valley/mesa/work-goes-on-to-save-historic-east-mesa-baths

As the Anasazi Heritage Center is Switches to Sustainable Power,  Short Term Closures are Possible
The Bureau of Land Management’s Anasazi Heritage Center may be experiencing short-notice closures to the museum during the next few weeks because of construction activities and the installation of a photovoltaic system. Visitors are encouraged to call the center at 970-882-5600 for current status. Winter hours for the museum will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through February, except holiday closures on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day. There is no entry fee this time of year. Bureau of Land Management offices remain open as usual Monday through Friday.

Texas Historical Foundation Grants Two Awards
Continuing its record of supporting archeology in the Lone Star State, the Texas Historical Foundation (THF) approved two archeology grants during the last quarter. The Friends of the Texas Historical Commission and the Community Archaeology Research Institute, Inc. of Houston (CARI) will both receive funds from THF’s Joseph Ballard Archeological Endowment.  http://www.thecherokeean.com/news/2010-11-17/Historical/TEXAS_HISTORICAL_FOUNDATION_AWARDS_TWO_ARCHEOLOGY_.html

American Express Dontaes Ten Million Dollars to Support National Trust’s Partners in Preservation Program
American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will announce an additional $10 million in funding for the Partners in Preservation program. Launched in 2006, the program focuses on raising public awareness for preserving our nation’s cultural and historic sites by awarding preservation grants in cities across the country based on a competitive voting process involving members of the community.
http://www.pnnonline.org/10-million-commitment-will-continue-partners-in-preservation-program

BLM sponsors Archaeological “Brown Bag” Lunchtime Talks in Wilcox
Safford, Ariz. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Safford Field Office has scheduled its next two Brown Bag Lunch presentations. These noontime talks are free, so bring your lunch and join us for these interesting speakers.
http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/articles/2010/11/17/news/news17.txt

Lecture Opportunity – Tubac
University of Arizona archaeologist Vance Holliday will give a presentation to the Santa Cruz Valley Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society on December 9, 2010, 7 PM, at the North County Facility at 50 Bridge Road in Tubac. His topic will be “Comets and the Clovis People.”  The presentation is free and open to the public. The Santa Cruz Valley AAS chapter meets the second Thursday of each month.  In addition to hosting programs featuring experts in historical and archaeological topics that focus on the Santa Cruz River Valley, the chapter offers members opportunities for assisting archaeologists with excavating area sites, hikes, and tours to archaeologically and historically significant locations.

Lecture Orpportunity – Tucson
Tuesday November 23, 2010  “Arts and Culture of Ancient Southern Arizona Hohokam Indians” free presentation by Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s director, archaeologist Allen Dart, at Saguaro National Park West’s Environmental Education Center, 2700 N. Kinney Road in Tucson. Cosponsored by the Arizona Humanities Council. 8:30-10 a.m. Free.

Thanks to Wes Bernardini and Brian Kreimendahl for contributions to this week’s newsletter.