Archaeologists Rally Against “Apache Leap” Land Transfer

Archaeologists Rally Against “Apache Leap” Land Transfer
Archaeology groups are lining up against a proposal, currently being debated on the floor of the House of Representatives, to give a major copper mining company a large chunk of federal land in Arizona in exchange for private lands. The groups are particularly concerned that any mine built on the former federal land would destroy archeological sites near Oak Flat, a popular Arizona recreational area. The trade would be “a blatant giveaway of the nation’s public land to a single private stakeholder” and would set “a dangerous precedent,” William F. Limp, president of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) in Washington, D.C., argues with colleagues in a letter to lawmakers signed by eight archeology and historic preservation groups. http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/10/breaking-news-archeology-groups.html?rss=1

House Passes Bill Authorizing the Apache Leap Land Exchange
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill that authorizes the transfer of 2,400 acres of Arizona federal forest land to the UK and Australia-based mining company, Rio Tinto. In a 235-186 vote this week, the House passed the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011, which approves the trade of 2,400 acres of federal land for 5,000 acres controlled by the mining company. http://washingtonindependent.com/114714/house-of-representatives-supports-giving-federal-land-to-foreign-company

Last Chance to Show your Support of Southwest Archaeology Today!
Today is the last day of our campaign to raise $5,000 to help meet the costs of delivering SAT to more than 1,500 inboxes every Monday morning. If you have not yet made your gift, please do so right now. We need everyone’s support to continue providing you and others with the valuable online resource. Many thanks to the generous Southwest Archaeology Today subscribers who have already given a total of $3,220 in response to this campaign. If you have not yet joined your fellow readers in making a gift, please do so today at https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/how-to-help/sat/.

Join a Discussion on the Chaco Experience at the Next Archaeology Cafe – Tucson
The Center for Desert Archaeology and Casa Vicente invite all to the fourth season of Archaeology Café, a casual, happy hour-style discussion forum dedicated to promoting community engagement with cultural and scientific research. On Tuesday, November 1, 2011, Ruth Van Dyke will guide us through a unique Chaco Experience. Join us to gain a richer understanding of life in this much-studied time and place. https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/2011/08/07/the-chaco-experience/

Aztec Ruins to Celebrate World Heritage Site Status
Since 1987, the Aztec Ruins and National Monument has been in elite company with Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Greece’s Acropolis and the Great Wall of China as a World Heritage site. “When people realize that we have something right here that important, then can encourage them to go check it out,” said Aztec Chamber of Commerce President Christa Romme. “Hopefully it will get people to come out.” http://www.daily-times.com/farmington-news/ci_19180082?source=rss

Arizona Preservation Foundation Launches 2012 Conference Website
The Arizona Preservation Foundation, Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, Arizona Commerce Authority, and the City of Prescott invite you to join them at the 10th Annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference. This year’s conference, “100 Years of Living History” is being held in Prescott, June 13th – June 15th, 2012. http://www.azpreservation.com/

Six People Sentenced to Fines and Probation for Vandalizing Hohokam Site
An archaeological site, known as Indian Kitchen, southeast of Tucson, Arizona, that was used by members of the prehistoric Hohokam culture as a food-processing area was vandalized in 2009. Recently, six people from Sahuarita were fined $43,000 and sentenced to five years supervised probation as a result of the damage. http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/10/vandals-punished-for-defacing-indian-kitchen-site/

Lecture Opportunity – Durango
Steve Lekson, University of Colorado Boulder professor of anthropology, will discuss the American Southwest in his program “The Southwest in the World” at 7 p.m. Tuesday
in Room 130 of Noble Hall at Fort Lewis College. Lekson has written numerous journal articles and books about archaeology and the Southwest, and he has directed more than 20 archaeological projects throughout the region. The presentation is part of “CU in the Community,” a series of lectures by CU-Boulder faculty. For more information, email outreach@colorado.edu.

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
On November 7,  Dr. Richard I. Ford, ethnobotanist, archaeologist, and Professor Emeritus of Anthropology (ret.), University of Michigan, will present Pre-Hispanic Farming in the Northern Rio Grande at 6 pm at Hotel Santa Fe.  Admission to this Southwest Seminars program is $12.

Poster Submissions for the 2012 Arizona Archaeology Month Due Soon
Designs for the 2012 Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month poster competition are due by November 8th.  See https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/sat/2012 _poster.doc – MS Word document.

Thanks to Cherie Freeman for contributing to this week’s newsletter.