New Evidence for Non-Clovis Paleolithic Occupation of the Americas

Paleolithic Site in Oregon Appears Unrelated to Clovis 
Archaeological work in Oregon’s Paisley Caves has found evidence that Western Stemmed projectile points — darts or thrusting spearheads — were present at least 13,200 calendar years ago during or before the Clovis culture in western North America. In a paper in the July 13 issue ofScience, researchers from 13 institutions lay out their findings, which also include substantial new documentation, including “blind-test analysis” by independent labs, that confirms the human DNA pulled earlier from human coprolites (dried feces) and reported in Science (May 9, 2008) dates to the same time period.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120712141916.htm and http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/07/it-was-long-thought-that.html

Peopling of the Americas Traced to Three Distinct Migrations
North and South America were first populated by three waves of migrants from Siberia rather than just a single migration, say researchers who have studied the whole genomes of Native Americans in South America and Canada. Some scientists assert that the Americas were peopled in one large migration from Siberia that happened about 15,000 years ago, but the new genetic research shows that this central episode was followed by at least two smaller migrations from Siberia, one by people who became the ancestors of today’s Eskimos and Aleutians and another by people speaking Na-Dene, whose descendants are confined to North America. The research was published online on Wednesday in the journal Nature.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/science/earliest-americans-arrived-in-3-waves-not-1-dna-study-finds.html

Possible de Soto Campsite Located
A local Florida archeologist recently uncovered what some of his contemporaries claim has been more elusive that the prized gold De Soto searched for…evidence of his journey through Florida that could redraw the Spanish explorer’s path and help expose more archeological sites in the region. “It gets rid of the guesswork now on the route through Marion County,” said Ashley White, the archaeologist who found the site in Florida’s Marion County, according to the Ocala Star-Banner. “Now, we know for sure he came up through the Black Sink Prairie to Orange Lake and looped around through Micanopy.” : http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/07/12/archaeologist-uncovers-evidence-hernando-de-soto-expedition/#ixzz20iFQGFQM

Shelby Tisdale Appointed to Autry Center
The Autry National Center announced the appointment of accomplished anthropologist and scholar, Dr. Shelby J. Tisdale, to the newly created Vice President of Curatorial and Exhibitions position. Reporting to the Autry’s President and CEO, Dr. Tisdale’s extensive experience in museum management and curation of Native American and Southwest culture exhibitions will serve to guide the Center’s curatorial process, including its intellectual vision, and shape the future direction of exhibitions and acquisitions.  http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=56373

Dan Shea Passes
In a letter to the campus community today, Beloit College President Scott Bierman noted Shea’s long service to the college and his great regret at having to deliver such news. However, he wrote, “I admit to finding some comfort in the knowledge that when he passed, Dan was in a place that he loves, doing what he does best—introducing students to the archaeological wonders of Latin America.”  http://www.beloit.edu/news/?story_id=352200

Historic Division in Navajo Culture
There is a hidden story lurking in the shadows of Navajo history that has never been fully told. Some pieces of the tale are missing, yet enough remains, allowing a brief sketch to be drawn. The matter begins with a Navajo headman known to the Spaniards as Joaquín. It is uncertain how he acquired that name, but it may have been borrowed from New Mexico Gov. Joaquín del Real Alencaster (1803 to 1805). http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/071412traildust-hh

Mesa City Council to Vote on Opening Mesa Grande Museum
The long-awaited Mesa Grande archaeological park is about to become reality. The City Council on Monday night is expected to approve a $658,000 contract that will prepare the Hohokam ruins at 10th and Date streets for public viewing by this fall. Mesa bought the property in 1985 in hopes of it quickly becoming a public attraction paying tribute to the civilization that flourished for a millennium before mysteriously vanishing about 700 years ago. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/07/03/20120703mesa-approval-would-prep-mesa-grande-ruins-public.html

“Documerica” Project Chronicles the Struggles of the Navajo Nation in 1972
With camera in hand, photographer Terry Eiler ventured into Arizona’s stark northeast corner in 1972. Hired by the Environmental Protection Agency, he was instructed to document how much the nation’s growing environmental concerns were impacting the Navajo community — a society that was often missed on the country’s radar. His images reveal a people who valued kinship and who had one noble — and seemingly simple — goal: the protection of a deeply-rooted culture.  http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/07/what-america-looked-like-the-struggles-of-the-navajo-nation-in-1972/259299/

Anasazi Heritage Center to Provide “Behind the Scenes Tours” through October
The Curation staff at the Bureau of Land Management Anasazi Heritage Center (AHC) will host weekly “Behind-the-Scenes” tours of its curation and collections management facility through October 31.  Tours are open to the public, and are free with the cost of admission to the AHC. Federal recreation pass holders and people under age 18 always enjoy free admission to the museum. These tours will take place every Thursday at 2 p.m. Each tour can accommodate a maximum of 10 people. Participants may register in advance at the museum’s front desk, or by phone at 970-882-5613 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. The Anasazi Heritage Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week throughout the summer season.  For more information, contact the museum at (970) 882-5600 or see its web site at www.co.blm.gov/ahc

Lecture Opportunity – Silver City
Dr. Harry Shafer, professor emeritus of Texas A&M University, will present two lectures Saturday, August 4, in Silver City, New Mexico as part of the Silver City Clay Festival. Dr. Shafer’s topic, “Mimbres Archeology at the NAN Ranch Ruins”, will focus on the pottery of the Mimbres culture that thrived in the Silver City area from 750 – 1150 AD. The lecture is free. For more information see: www.clayfestival.com

Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society is pleased to present Arthur Rohn on Monday, July 16 at 7:30 PM at the DuVal Auditorium (1501 N. Campbell Ave. inside University Medical Center) to discuss The Neglected Stage of Puebloan Culture History. Rohn will discuss how the results of his excavation of the Ewing Site and other research comapre the sometimes popular view that the Pueblo II was a disrupted growth stage of widely dispersed hamlets and farmsteads. Contact Jon Boyd @ 520 444-6385 with questions about this, or any other AAHS program.

Employment Opportunity – Phoenix
The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office has an opening for a Planner III – Archaeological Compliance Specialist.  To find more details on this position, visit https://secure.azstatejobs.gov/pljb/azgovjobs/mainjb/applicant/index.jsp and enter “AZPARKS” in the search window.  Please contact DiAnne Baune, Chief of Human Resources at (602) 542-6900, or at djonas.azstateparks.gov, or Vicki Adney, Personnel Manager at (602) 542-6919, or vadney@azstateparks.gov should you have questions or need assistance with your application.  Applications are due by August 6, 2012.