Tucson’s Big Jim Griffith Honored by the National Endowment for the Arts

Tucson’s Big Jim Griffith Honored by the National Endowment for the Arts
Folklorist Jim Griffith has been awarded a 2011 National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. Former University of Arizona anthropologist and folklorist James S. Griffith, whose career has been devoted to celebrating and honoring the folkways and religious expression found along the U.S.-Mexico border, has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts for his efforts. http://uanews.org/node/40764 & http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/a-big-honor-for-big-jim/Content?oid=3120308

US Dept of Agriculture Report Finds Government “Bungles” Issues Regarding Native Sacred Sites
A new draft report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that American Indians are correct in believing that the federal government and the agency’s U.S. Forest Service in particular are doing poorly on understanding sacred site issues from Native viewpoints, and it calls for many improvements. “We hope this report will foster change in how Indian tribes and the Forest Service interact on land management decisions for the good of all Americans,” the authors write in their executive summary. http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/08/natives-correct-that-usda-bungles-sacred-site-issues/

New National Park Service Website Presents Strategies for Protecting Archaeological Sites on Private Land
These strategies serves as a guide to the wide variety of tools available for protecting archeological sites on private lands. It contains information on strategies that are currently being used throughout the country, contact information, and other sources of useful information. http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/pad/strategies/index.html

National Park Service Digest Remembers George Cattanach
Retired career employee George S. Cattanach, 84, died on July 2nd in Tucson, Arizona. George retired in 1990 with 39 years of federal service – 36 years with the NPS as an archeologist and three years with the US Navy as a hospital corpsman (WWII and Korean War). George studied geology at MIT and subsequently pursed his desire to be an archeologist and transferred to the University of Arizona, graduating in 1953.  As a student, George participated in the excavations of the Naco Mammoth and the San Jose Mission, Tucson.  While attending the University’s Point of Pines Field School, he excavated components of pueblo sites and conducted field surveys. http://www.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=3245

Ancient Harvesting of the Colorado Pikeminnow Reflected in Southwestern Water Settlement
“Tribal members reportedly speared the fish with pitchforks, shot them with bows and arrows, or simply collected them from the river during low flows,” the Recovery Program notes. It also explains that Colorado pikeminnow bones have been found at a Pueblo Indian site in Arizona and in areas associated with the Hohokam civilization.  http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/08/native-fish-affect-big-settlements/

Safeway Grocery Store Helps Anasazi Heritage Center Recycle 30 Thousand Artifact Bags
Safeway and 30,000 plastic bags doesn’t sound that odd — but add in the Anasazi and suddenly it sounds like a riddle. Don’t worry, it isn’t. In this case, the combination creates a sense of relief for both curators at the Anasazi Heritage Center and most environmentalists, all thanks to one of the nation’s largest grocery chains.  The Safeway in Cortez, Colo., is helping the curation department at the Anasazi Heritage Center recycle more than 30,000 plastic bags that are deteriorating while holding more than 1.5 million ancestral Puebloan artifacts. http://www.daily-times.com/farmington-news/ci_18674847?source=rss

Migration Exhibit Featured at Aztec Museum
Everyone has taken a journey. Whether across town or across the country, everyone has a story to tell. An exhibit at the Aztec Museum called “Journey Stories” is a showcase of stories from those who settled this area. Aztec is the second stop of six for the traveling exhibition, which begins today. The tour, sponsored by the New Mexico Humanities Council, will spend six weeks in Aztec before heading to Raton, Carlsbad, Fort Sumner and Las Cruces.  http://www.daily-times.com/ci_18674846

Change in Tonight’s Southwest Seminar Speaker (Santa Fe)
John Ware will step in for Clay Mather’s at tonight’s Southwest Seminars event at the Hotel Santa Fe.  At 6pm, Dr Ware will present “Does Deep Time Matter?”  Admission is $12 at the door or by subscription @ $80 for a series of 8 talks.

Employment Opportunity (Phoenix)
Arizona Game and Fish is seeking an archaeological project specialist. This position will advise and facilitate the protection, preservation and management of historic and archaeological resources for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) properties and activities. Oversees and advises AGFD staff on cultural resources and consults with the State Historic Preservation Office on archaeology and cultural compliance issues. http://tinyurl.com/3j97l7b – Az State Jobs.Gov

Employment Opportunity (Denver & Phoenix)
PaleoWest Archaeology is seeking to fill Project Director positions in our Rocky Mountain and Southwest regional offices in Denver and Phoenix.  The candidates must possess an advanced degree in Anthropology or related cultural-resource field.  Under the supervision of the Regional Vice President and the training and guidance of the Director of Field Operations, each Project Director will develop and run archaeological projects throughout the West. This midlevel, salaried position offers advancement opportunities in a fast-growing, meritocratic ACRA-member firm.  The position includes health and leave-time benefits, as well as cash bonuses for productivity, performance, and academic publication.   Successful candidates will be fit, resourceful, dedicated, organized, and possess outstanding writing skills.  PaleoWest Project Directors need to be able to communicate deftly with clients, agencies, tribes, subordinates, and colleagues.  Candidates must have prior success in managing projects and supervising field personnel with an eye towards efficiency and thoroughness.  The position requires the ability to prepare, plan, and execute logistically challenging fieldwork independently but in coordination with each project’s Principal and with administrative staff. Expertise with the historic and prehistoric archaeology of a variety of regions is anadvantage, as is demonstrated permittability in a variety of federal and state jurisdictions.  Candidates must be Registered Professional Archaeologists, or qualified to become so upon hire. Please submit a current vita and brief letter of intent to work@paleowest.com with “Project Director ” in the subject line.

Thanks to Adrianne Rankin for contributions to this weeks issue of Southwestern Archaeology Today.