Former Utah State Archaeologist Kevin T. Jones Makes the Case for a Bears Ears National Monument

Former Utah State Archaeologist Kevin T. Jones Makes the Case for Bears Ears National Monument
Looting is a regular occurrence in the Bears Ears region and, according to archaeologists who patrol the area, is on the increase. First protected by the Antiquities Act and later by other statutes, heritage resources lure the lowest of thieves, the worst kinds of profit-seekers — grave robbers. Without increased protection and rigorous pursuit and prosecution of looters and collectors, the legacy of the ancient ones, the heritage of today’s tribal people, will be shamelessly destroyed. Utah’s First District Rep. Rob Bishop hates the Antiquities Act and has stated that all who support it should die. He and his colleagues demean the motives of tribes that seek to protect the Bears Ears. They vilify those who wish to protect this unique and immensely beautiful region. They see antiquities as an impediment to development and profiteering, and turn a blind eye to grave robbing and looting. http://bit.ly/1TO1k4c – Salt Lake Tribune

Utah BLM Now Offering Reward Money in Exchange for Information on Archaeological Vandals
[…] The BLM lacks the resources to adequately monitor these cultural treasures, it’s turning to private-sector partners — and the public — for help. For the first time, the agency is offering a standing reward of $2,500 for information leading to the conviction of those who steal or vandalize archaeological sites and artifacts on Utah’s public lands, officials announced Wednesday at a gathering of BLM staff and program partners in the Natural History Museum of Utah. http://bit.ly/1TxxE8X – Salt Lake Tribune

Reminder: Join the Fight to Protect Bears Ears
The archaeological community has urged the preservation of the Cedar Mesa/Bears Ears region for at least 113 years, dating back to a report in 1903 by T. Mitchel Prudden. Thanks to the leadership of Native American Tribes, 2016 is finally the year to protect this internationally significant cultural landscape. If you’re a professional or avocational archaeologist, please add your voice to the chorus calling for permanent designation of a place that should have been protected more than 100 years ago! http://bit.ly/1Sm08G4 – Friends of Cedar Mesa

Decisions on Fracking and the Chaco Landscape Appear to Have Stalled
A May 5 deadline to determine whether to postpone an oil and gas lease sale on sacred land near Chaco Canyon passed without a decision, and agency officials said there’s some leeway on a final verdict. “May 5 was more of our target date,” said Lisa Morrison, a deputy chief of communications for the Bureau of Land Management’s New Mexico office. “There’s no law that tells us we need to decide by that date, so we can adjust if we need to.” Three potential lease sales, totaling 2,122-acres in New Mexico, slated for October has riled conservation groups, which claim oil and gas operations would destroy a “treasured landscape.” http://bit.ly/1O9wLXG – The Durango Herald

The Kennewick Man Case: Contested Realms of Human Rights, Archaeology, Spirituality, and Ethics
Last week, there was a big development in the long-running, bitter, complicated battle over a 9,000-year-old set of bones known variously as “Kennewick Man” or “The Ancient One,” depending on whom you ask. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that the ancient bearer of the bones is genetically linked to modern-day Native Americans. Now, under federal law, a group of tribes that has been fighting to rebury him will almost certainly get to do so. http://n.pr/1WT817D – National Public Radio

Kennewick Man, Continued: “The Chafe between Science and Spirituality”
There is still an open sore with Kennewick Man. It’s the chafe between science and spirituality, between people who say the remains have so much to tell us about the ancient human past that they should remain available for research, versus people who feel a kinship with the ancient bones and say they should be reburied to show proper reverence for the dead. http://bit.ly/1q7s9pH – Indian Country Today

Tucson’s Mission Garden – Sharing 4,000 Years of Agricultural Heritage in situ
A garden that has been over 4,000 years in the making can provide a few good ideas about to what to grow at home. The Mission Garden aims to re-create the agricultural history of the Tucson area, from wild corn and tepary beans raised in 2100 B.C. to today’s popular home crops. Run by the nonprofit Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, the Mission Garden has been growing since 2012, when the first fruit trees were planted on a four-acre dirt lot enclosed by adobe walls. http://bit.ly/2762Gi2 – Arizona Daily Star

The National Park Service Offers Some Astonishing Back-Country Tour Opportunities at Mesa Verde
While touring the main attractions at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is an experience not to miss, getting off the circuit with a ranger to view some of the lesser known, but just as amazing, cliff dwellings in the park is well worth your time. This summer ranger-guided hikes and programs include hikes to Mug House, Oak Tree House, and Spring House; a half-day bicycle/hiking tour on Wetherill Mesa; Sunrise Tours of Balcony House; Twilight Photography tours of Cliff Palace; and tours of Yucca House National Monument. http://bit.ly/1O9xqbA – National Parks Traveler

Interesting Tool May Provide Critical Wildfire Information for Archaeological Field Crews
During the 2016 fires season, WFM RD&A will beta test a new wildfire monitoring app that provides real-time incident information to users. “Wildfires Near Me” (WFNM) monitors the landscape for wildfires and notifies the user if a wildfire is reported within the user’s specified notification distance. More information can be found at: http://www.wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Dr.Victoria Hannah Mattson, who will give a lecture Personal Ornaments from Chaco Canyon and Aztec Ruin: Social Identity, Ritual Practice and Demographic Reorganization on May 16 at Hotel Santa Fe at 6:00 p.m. as part of the annual Ancient Sites Ancient Stories II Lecture Series, held annually to honor and acknowledge the work of The Archaeological Conservancy. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary. Refreshments are served. Seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt at tel: 505 466-2775; email: southwest seminar@aol.com; http://bit.ly/YhJddr – Southwest Seminars

Lecture Opportunity – Sedona
The Verde Valley Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society invites you to join us for our next monthly meeting on Thursday, May 26, 7:00 p.m., in the Community Room at the Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, in West Sedona. Our speakers, Andy Christenson and Helen Gasko, will present What good are old collections? Reanalysis of Franklin Barnett’s Pottery Collections from the Fitzmaurice Ruin. For more information, see http://bit.ly/1TOb3HQ – Verde Valley Chapter of the AAS

A tip of the hat to Cherie Freeman and Suzanne Griset for contributions to this week’s newsletter.