Pottery Mound Deeded to Isleta Pueblo

UNM Transfers Ownership of Pottery Mound to Isleta Pueblo
The UNM Board of Regents has taken steps to preserve a pre­his­toric Native American village. A uni­ver­sity archaeological site of nine acres known as “Pot­tery Mound” has been deeded to the Pueblo of Isleta. UNM acquired the land in 1978 when the Hun­ing Land Trust gave the uni­ver­sity the Pot­tery Mound. The trust also gave land in the area to the Pueblo of Isleta. Over the years, the pueblo has acquired more land in the vicin­ity so the nine acre plot owned by UNM is sur­rounded by pueblo property. http://news.unm.edu/2012/12/regents-deed-land-to-isleta-pueblo/

Fiscal Cliff Failure Could Have Serious Impact on National Parks
National park service leaders are scrambling to find at least an 8 percent cut in spending should Congress fail to reach a decision on the so-called fiscal cliff. Colorado, home to 17 national park service properties that draw 5.8 million visitors a year and support 6,300 jobs, could see cuts that impact the state’s vibrant tourism industry. “Supervisors are more than concerned. They are developing different scenarios and all are grim,” said David Nimkin, director of the southwest regional office for the National Parks Conservation Association, which has long advocated for increased park funding. http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_22196868/national-parks-facing-deep-cuts-without-deficit-reduction?source=rss

Santa Fe Writer Explores Hopi History
Twice in the 1950s, I had the good fortune to spend a half hour or so with elderly Tewaquaptewa, the cacique, or village chief, of the Hopi pueblo of Old Orabi. And therein hangs a tale. The Hopis lived mainly on three finger-like extensions of Northern Arizona’s Black Mesa. In 1540 Coronado, then encamped with a large expedition at Zuni, sent Capt. Pedro de Tovar with a small force northwest to explore unknown country. http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/121512traildust#.UM6EbG99A3U

Internet Sustains Remote Trading Post
Situated beneath towering twin sandstone pillars that are symbolic of the Hero Twins of the Navajo, the Twin Rocks Trading Post, where the specialty of the house is fine Navajo art, has a setting as unforgettable as it is fitting.  But Steve Simpson, who owns the trading post along with his brothers Craig and Barry, will be the first to tell you that in this case, location, location, location is not enough. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765617431/Internet-saves-the-day-at-the-Twin-Rocks-Trading-Post.html

Remains of Ancient Saber-toothed Cat Found Near Las Vegas
Researchers digging in the hills north of Las Vegas have unearthed the bones of an iconic predator and solved an ice age cold case. A team from California’s San Bernardino County Museum has positively identified a pair of fossils dug up in June as two front leg bones from a saber-tooth cat. http://www.lvrj.com/news/saber-tooth-cats-found-to-be-part-of-las-vegas-past-182101111.html

Would You Like to Learn More About Current Research on the Mimbres Frontier?
Catch the recording of University of Oklahoma’s Pat Gilman’s presentation at Archaeology Southwest’s most recent Archaeology Cafe.  Dr Gilman highlights her ongoing efforts to explore the boundaries of the Mimbres and offers her interpretation of the evidence encountered to date.  https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/what-we-do/information/video/ac_506/