Obama’s Budget Once Again Calls for the Elimination of Federal Heritage Programs

Obama’s Budget Once Again Calls for the Elimination of Federal Heritage Programs
Yesterday, President Obama sent his 2012 budget proposal to Capitol Hill, delivering a painful blow to preservationists: Two federal grant programs, Save America’s Treasures and Preserve America, were eliminated, slashing the Historic Preservation Fund by 23 percent. Other sources for historic preservation were also cut severely. Funding for National Heritage Areas was reduced by half. And the National Park Service’s construction budget, the account that funds maintenance on historic structures, took a 35 percent hit. http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2011/story-of-the-day/presidents-budget-proposes.html

Efforts to Preserve Historic Camp Naco Highlight How Places of the Past Still Matter to Modern Communities
Outside of Bisbee, an old adobe fort offer a glimpse of life along the U.S.-Mexico border a century ago. Historic Camp Naco provided security on the border between 1911 and 1923, while Mexico underwent a revolution, and later served as a Buffalo Soldier base and as a home for the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 2006, arson damaged many of the structures. But the attack also galvanized the local community to take action. With help from the Center for Desert Archaeology and the Naco Heritage Alliance, the town of Huachuca City is working to preserve and rehabilitate Camp Naco.  http://www.azpm.org/arts-and-life/story/2011/2/25/1912-history-moment-camp-naco/ and see https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/what-we-do/current-projects/saving-camp-naco-arizona/ for more information.

Mule Creek Archaeological Field School Deadline for Registration
Interested students should submit an application by March 1. Enrollment is limited, and students will be notified of acceptance by March 10. Students will register for two three-credit courses through the University of Arizona. Summer tuition at the University of Arizona is identical for in-state and out-of-state students, and students from all colleges and universities are encouraged to apply. https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/2011/01/21/2011-mule-creek-field-school/

Learn More About the Center For Desert Archaeology’s Research at Mule Creek
Meet the Field School staff: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/what-we-do/information-resources/video/mcat-video/

Archaeology Professor Pleads Guilty to Charge of Taking Folsom and Clovis Artifacts from Federal Land in New Mexico
A Chicago archaeology professor has pleaded guilty to taking “Folsom and Clovis points” from federal land in New Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  David Amick, 66, chairperson of the anthropology department at the Lake Shore campus of Loyola University of Chicago, entered a guilty plea to one misdemeanor count of violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, says a news release from U.S. Attorney for the New Mexico District, Kenneth Gonzales. http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Local-briefs-Feb–26-2011

Hopi Tribe Asks that the Word “Ruins” be Removed from Homol’ovi Ruins State Park Name
With Republican lawmakers sweeping the funds that support state parks, the Arizona State Parks Board has had to find creative ways to partner with local governments and non-profits to keep the gates open. Now the Hopi Tribe is saving Homolovi Ruins State Park from closing. There’s just one caveat—-they want the name changed. The tribe has agreed to enter in a one-year agreement with Arizona State Parks, contributing $175,000 to keep the park, located just east of Flagstaff, open to the public. During early negotiations in November, the Hopi Tribe requested the Arizona State Parks Board take “Ruins” out of the park’s name, according to an information report released by the board.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2011/02/23/hopi-tribe-wants-state-park-name-changed

New Exhibit at the Arizona State Museum of Anthropology Contrasts Water Use in Modern Phoenix with the ways Water was Used by the Ancient Hohokam
By comparing and contrasting ancient Hohokam examples and modern-day challenges the exhibition presents a long-term view of resilience in the Phoenix valley. Resilience, a central theme of the exhibition, is the capacity to deal with change as we continue to develop. It often involves tradeoffs, because building resilience into certain socio-ecological choices can introduce unexpected consequences.  The exhibit will be open from March 7 – April 15, 2011.
http://www.azreporter.com/news/index.php?itemid=1458

Preparations Underway to Move University of Arizona Dendrochronology Laboratory
The UA Tree-Ring Laboratory was founded by an astronomer, directed by a ship hull specialist and is going on more than 70 years in what was supposed to be its temporary home under the football stadium. But in a year and a half, more than two million samples covering 8,000 years of history from around the Southwest will be moving to their new home. http://wildcat.arizona.edu/news/uprooting-the-rings-1.2014870

Archaeologists Document Earliest Human Remains in US Arctic
Some 11,500 years ago one of America’s earliest families laid the remains of a 3-year-old child to rest in their home in what is now Alaska. The discovery of that burial is shedding new light on the life and times of the early settlers who crossed from Asia to the New World, researchers report in Friday’s edition of the journal Science. The bones represent the earliest human remains discovered in the Arctic of North America, a “pretty significant find,” said Ben A. Potter of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. http://my.earthlink.net/article/us?guid=20110224/aa308630-31e8-4cac-9dcb-e58d6a671d56

Archaeology Day at the Museum of Northern Arizona Scheduled for March 5
Turn back the clock and enter the world of prehistoric people on the Colorado Plateau. On Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Museum of Northern Arizona will celebrate Archaeology Day. This annual event focuses on ancient people from this region and offers an opportunity for budding archaeologists of all ages to get close to professionals in that field.
http://www.musnaz.org/events/archday2011.shtml

Petrified Forest National Park Announces Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month Events
Petrified Forest National Park will celebrate the 28th Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month in March. There will be cultural demonstrators, tours of historic and archeological sites, hikes to special places that most visitors don’t get to see and family oriented activities. http://www.azjournal.com/2011/02/23/archaeologyheritage-awareness-month-will-be-celebrated-at-petrified-forest/

Hiking Opportunity at El Malpais
“The Full Moon, The Equinox, The Petroglyphs”  All 3 come very close to meeting here.  At least two are very likely to dance together before our eyes.  Why?  Join us as we visit with respect, and ask in awe.  Leave behind as much of the 21^st century as you dare.  Destination?   A gem among the jewels of BLM’s El Malpais National Conservation Area, the Aldridge Petroglyphs on Saturday, March 19^th, 2011.  https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/sat/aldridge_hike.pdf

Lecture Opportunity (Cortez)
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society is pleased to present Dr. Andrew Gulliford for discussion titled “Kokopelli in the Canyon: The Rock Art of Canyon Pintado National Historic District” on Tuesday, March 1 at 7:00 PM at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 North Market St, Cortez, CO. Dr. Gulliford will draw upon his thirty years of research and photography in the historic district north of Grand Junction, as well as his interviews with area archaeologists, in making his slide presentation. He will also discuss the various rock art styles in the area as well as archaeoastronomic sites that have been identified. The discussion should enhance your base knowledge of Colorado rock art. Your questions will be welcome.

Thanks to Cherie Freeman for contributing to this week’s issue of Southwest Archaeology Today.