Clovis Comet Theory – Once More with Spherules

Clovis Comet Theory — Once More with Spherules
We humans have often blamed ourselves for the extinction of the woolly mammoth, but a new study from a large team of international researchers has found evidence of a large meteorite breaking apart in the atmosphere about 13,000 years ago – around the time when the prehistoric pachyderms died out. By studying sediment layers from 18 archaeological sites around the world, the team found tiny spheres of carbon they say are telltale signs of multiple impacts and meteorites’ mid-air explosions, according to their study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)http://bit.ly/11k1DW3 – RedOrbit

Ancient Painted Cave Found in Northeast Mexico
In the mountains of northeastern Mexico, archaeologists have unearthed thousands of ancient paintings on the walls of caves and ravines from a time before Spanish rule. The rock art offers rare evidence from native cultures living in the area around the Sierra de San Carlos, a mountain range in Mexico’s state of Tamaulipas, researchers say. http://nbcnews.to/1aoyQ8r – NBC News

Ballplayer Statue Uncovered in Southwest Mexico
Villagers installing a water pipe in southwestern Mexico stumbled onto an ancient granite statue depicting a player from a pre-Hispanic ball game, the national anthropology institute said Monday.  The stone had been sliced at the neck, like a decapitation, and buried in a ritual that was common at the time, the National Anthropology and History Institute said in a statement. There are indications that the 1.65-meter (5-foot-4) tall statue, which depicts a bow-legged ballplayer with his arms crossed, was built onto an I-shaped ball game field before it was buried and could be more than 1,000 years old. http://bit.ly/159xvRH – Phys.org

Tucson’s “Roman” Artifacts Strike Again, or This Week in Preposterous Book Reviews
Lost Cities and Ancient Mysteries of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress is an important historical work on the influences of ancient Egypt and Rome on the Southwest and Mexico. Childress provides important archeologic (sic) findings which support his theories. In addition, the work has many pictures of the historical findings which will provide the basis for much conversation. http://bit.ly/10uauJj – Seattle Pi

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Dr. Majeed Khan, Professor and Advisor, Department of Antiquities, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and regarded as the leading authority on rock art of Arabia and the Middle East, who will give a lecture on Mysteries and Mysticism in the Arabian Desert: A Journey From the Mountain of Moses to the Mountain of Mercy on June 3 at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the annual Voices From the Past Lecture Series. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary and refreshments are served. Contact Connie Eichstaedt, tel: 505 466-2775, email: southwestseminar@aol.com website: http://bit.ly/YhJddr

Children’s Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
On Tuesday June 4 from 3-4 p.m. the Pima County Public Library and Old Pueblo Archaeology Center offer a free children’s presentation titled “What Is an Archaeologist?” by archaeology technician Sherry Eisler at the Murphy-Wilmot Branch Library, 530 N. Wilmot Rd., Tucson.This program is designed to give children an idea of what archaeologists do, how they do it, and how they learn about people through their work. It examples of the tools archaeologists work with, real and replica artifacts, and activities to help children experience how archaeologists interpret the past. No reservations are needed. For details contact Librarian Amanda Zagloba in Tucson at 520-594-5422 or amanda.zagloba@pima.gov.

Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
University of Arizona archaeologist E. Charles Adams has studied ancient Hopi communities near Winslow for several decades. His work, according to American Archaeology magazine, “is a fine example of how archaeology can make an ancient place and people come alive.” He will talk about these communities and the Hopi culture at the Arizona Senior Academy Wednesday. Titled “New Knowledge from Old Sites: Hopi history at Homol’ovi,” his lecture begins at 3:30 p.m. in the great room of the ASA building. http://bit.ly/18t5PJC – Azstarnet.com

Lecture Opportunity – Cortez
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society is pleased to present Dr. Richard Wilshusen onTuesday, June 4, at 7:00 p.m., at the First Methodist Church, 515 Park St. in Cortez, CO to discuss History and the Navajo Homeland: The Creation of Dinetah. Please contact Diane McBride at 970-560-1643 for information on this, or other, presentations.

Reminder – Employment Opportunity
The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)/Arizona State Parks (ASP) is going to be hiring an archaeological compliance reviewer; please see the link to the State Jobs website for more detailed information.  If you have any questions, please contact our Human Resources representative at ASP, Vicki Adney, atvadney@azstateparks.gov or (602) 542-6919.  Job announcement for the Planner III, Archaeological Compliance Specialist https://azstatejobs.azdoa.gov/ltmprod/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1FS

Employment Opportunity
Arizona Game and Fish seeks a Cultural Compliance Manager. See http://bit.ly/18l5Lhm – AzStateJobs

Thanks to Jim Bonk for contributing to this week’s newsletter.