Arizona Republic Claims Repatriation of the Magician’s Burial was Controversial

Arizona Republic Claims Repatriation of the Magician’s Burial Was Controversial
On an unknown date at an unidentified location, the U.S. government turned over a collection of undisclosed Sinagua artifacts to anonymous members of the Hopi Tribe for unspecified disposition. The mysterious proceedings this fall involved an archaeological treasure trove and a substantial expenditure of tax dollars. Yet virtually everything about it remains secret under a federal law known as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2012/12/27/20121227effort-return-hopi-artifacts-stirs-questions.html

Field Museum Collections Threatened
The Field Museum of Natural History is one of the premier natural history museums in the U.S., with extensive collections in archaeology, anthropology, and many other disciplines. Last week, the Museum announced major budget cuts and restructuring that will reduce the scientific value of its collections. The museum evidently will cut back the scope of its scientific mission (collections and basic research) in order to pay back major debts and concentrate on exhibits. http://publishingarchaeology.blogspot.com/2012/12/field-museum-archaeological-collections.html?m=1 and http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-field-museum-to-cut-staff-overhaul-operations-and-limit-research-scope-20121218,0,6939773.story

4,000-year-old Stone Tools Found in Sinaloa
Researchers have discovered 4,000-year-old spearheads and other artifacts at a site in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History said. The find “will change the chronologies of the antiquity of human settlement in the northwest of the country”, archaeologist Joel Santos Ramirez said. http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/4-000-old-spearheads-found-mexico-054038689.html

Traditional Cultural Properties Workshop Announced
To better preserve and protect tribal Traditional Cultural Places today and for future generations through the promotion of mutual respect and understanding about these places between tribes and cultural resource managers.  To identify and discuss issues related to the identification, evaluation, and protection of these special places.  This workshop will be conducted in cooperation with the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference.  No registration fee will be charged to attend the TCP Workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, June 12 and 13, 2013.   We ask everyone to register at www.azpreservation.com beginning in late January.  You may also register for the Historic Preservation Conference at the same time (registration fees apply) but it is not a requirement to attend the TCP Workshop. http://azpreservation.com/tcp-workshop.html

Apocalyptic Parties Damaged Maya Temples
Carla Molina, president of Guatemala City-based Ecotourism & Adventure Specialists (which maintains the website TikalPark.com), just returned from spending time at Tikal, where she said “our cultural and natural heritage laws were abusively disrespected by the Guatemalan President, Otto Perez, and the Director of the Tourism Board, Pedro Duchez.” Perez, she said, ushered in a host of private guests, including Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, aboard a private helicopter, which flew well below the 2,500 feet limit required around Guatemala’s historic ruins. The president, along with Guatemala’s tourism board, Inguat, then “hijacked the park and made it their own private event.” http://www.ibtimes.com/mayan-ruins-damaged-ceremony-hijacked-amid-apocalypse-frenzy-976834

Lecture Opportunity – Cortez
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society is pleased to present Dr. Patricia Flint Lacey on Tuesday, January 8, at 7:00 P.M. at the First Methodist Church, 515 North Park Street, Cortez, CO, to discuss Architectural Documentation of Spring House, a large unexcavated cliff dwelling on Long Mesa at Mesa Verde National Park.  Spring House has nearly 85 rooms and seven kivas, similar in size to Spruce Tree House. In the upper part of the Spring House alcove there are eight rooms with remarkable preservation of their wood, adobe floors, and pink and tan plastered walls. For question about this or other lectures, please call Diane McBride at 970-560-1643.

Lecture Opportunities – Bisbee and Payson
On Tuesday January 15 and again on Saturday January 19 the Arizona Humanities Council is providing support for two Arizona organizations to host a free presentation titled “Archaeology’s Deep Time Perspective on Environment and Social Sustainability” by Tucson archaeologist Allen Dart. The January 15 program will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Copper Queen Library, 6 Main St. in Bisbee. The January 19  one will be at the Arizona Archaeological Society – Rim Country Chapter’s 10 a.m. monthly meeting at the Church of the Holy Nativity, 1414 Easy Street in Payson. In this presentation Mr. Dart discusses and illustrates some archaeological evidence on environmental changes and how human cultures have adapted to those changes, and advocates use of a “beyond history” perspective for modern planning. No reservations are needed for either presentation. http://www.oldpueblo.org/january.html

Lecture Opportunity – Glendale
The public is invited to a free lecture entitled Gila Cliff Dwellings: Mogollon Country offered by the Agua Fria Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society at 7:00 PM on Monday, January 14, 2013 at the West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 5904 W. Cholla St., Glendale, AZ (off 59th Avenue, south of Cactus).  Membership in the Society is not required. The lecture presents a visual narrative of a guided tour of the Gila Cliff Dwellings and provides insight to the prehistoric Mogollon people. There will be additional photos showing other Mogollon village sites, rock art and the beautiful wilderness country within the upper Gila River area.  The speaker, Chris Reed is an amateur archaeologist as well as being a docent and tour guide at the Deer Valley Rock Art Center.  Chris spent the last three summers as a National Park Ranger at he Petrified Forest, El Morro and Gila Cliff Dwellings sites. The Agua Fria Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society also offers classes and field trips. Check the website at www.azarchsoc.org. For more information contact Tim Cullison, 602-863-9744, tcullisonaz@gmail.com.

Employment Opportunity – Phoenix
Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his/her expertise as an Archeologist in a fast paced working environment. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Would you enjoy providing direction and leadership in the oversight of Upper Colorado’s cultural resources management program? Responsibilities include implementing laws, regulations, and policies affecting cultural resources and Native Americans; reviewing and evaluating environmental documents to ensure cultural resources compliance. http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com/AFW/Message/Topic/25822/Jobs/archeologist-ctap-ictap-gs-0193-12-phoenix-az

Employment Opportunity – Phoenix
BLM is seeking a dynamic and energetic individual to join the team as the State Deputy Preservation Officer. The BLM manages more land – approximately 253 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estates throughout  the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. https://my.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/334379200

Employment Opportunity – Phoenix
This position will assist the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AGFD) Project Leaders in facilitating cultural resources compliance for AGFD activities.  Primary duties will include conducting cultural resource surveys and research, preparing technical reports and treatment plans, performing archaeological monitoring, and completing archaeological permitting requirements such as data entry and project registration.  The position may assist the Department’s Cultural Services Project Leader in forming partnerships related to ensuring the protection and preservation of cultural resources.  May assist the Cultural Services Project Leader in developing programmatic agreements or other agreements.  Assists AGFD staff by providing advice on compliance issues for projects conducted on private, state and federal lands; provides National and State Register eligibility recommendations for documented cultural resources.  Performs other duties as needed, attends meetings, conferences and training sessions. http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com/AFW/Message/Topic/25868/Jobs/archaeologist-arizona-game-and-fish-department