Identification of a Powerful Matrilineal Descent Line at Pueblo Bonito

Identification of a Powerful Matrilineal Descent Line at Pueblo Bonito
They believe that power and influence in Chaco Canyon was hierarchical, belonged to this small group of people and was passed down through a female line between 800 and 1130 A.D. “At the center of Chaco is an elite matriline,” said Douglas J. Kennett, an archaeologist at Penn State University who was lead author on the paper. Similar to the way Jewish heritage is passed down from a mother to her children in some denominations, power in Chaco was passed down through mothers. “But this doesn’t mean that women ruled over Chaco,” Dr. Kennett said. http://nyti.ms/2lKezIx – New York Times

The Success of Chimney Rock Points to How National Monuments Improve Local Economies
Like most of us in the Southwest, I care deeply about the economic success of our region. But nationally, questions have begun to arise regarding the value of federal lands. Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) wants to make sure both the public and our elected officials understand the local economic gains generated by special designations such as Chimney Rock National Monument. Chimney Rock was a sacred place, an observatory and a calendar for Ancestral Puebloans over 1,000 years ago. The monument encompasses 4,726 acres, preserving hundreds of prehistoric sites that dot the landscape around twin spires. It is the most isolated and remote community connected to the Chaco culture and the highest in elevation. http://bit.ly/2lKdccG – Albuquerque Journal

Editorial: Utah Leaders Should Stand with Bears Ears
The battle over Bears Ears is far from over. Since former President Obama designated the Bears Ears National Monument at the end of December 2016, the Utah delegation continues to threaten the future of this sacred landscape in southeastern Utah. On Feb. 3, Gov. Gary Herbert signed HCR 11, a resolution urging the president to rescind the monument. In response, the Outdoor Retailer show is leaving Utah, and Native American tribes, conservation groups, and outdoor businesses have promised to litigate if the Trump administration revokes or shrinks the monument. http://bit.ly/2lK9akz – Moab Sun News

Editorial: Don’t Mess with Bears Ears
Anticipating the Trump administration might share their anti-park sentiments, the Utah state legislature recently voted to urge President Donald Trump to rescind the newly designated Bears Ears National Monument. On Feb. 3, Utah’s Governor Gary Herbert signed the resolution — which if carried out would be both unprecedented and unpresidential. The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, comprised of more than 1,200 former National Park Service employees, unequivocally objects to any form of dismantling of Bears Ears by this or any administration.  On so many levels, it’s just plain wrong for America. http://bit.ly/2lKavrK – Morning Consult

Editorial: The Federal Government Needs to Leave the Monuments Untouched
The city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau notes that there are now three national monuments in the area, with the Prehistoric Trackways and White Sands, and sees the opportunity to market all three in a vacation pitch to adventure tourists as a big part of its plan for bringing more travelers into the area. Now comes news that some in Congress, including our U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, would like to reverse the progress that has been made. And, there is even concern by monument supporters that newly elected President Donald Trump could seek to undo Obama’s proclamation. http://bit.ly/2lKl7qN – Las Cruces Sun-News

Listening to Local Voices Is Critical when Declaring National Monuments, but When It Comes to Mining and Oil Development, Local Voices Must Be Ignored
The Pueblo people who built the “Sun Dagger” to gauge solstices and other astral events also hewed a massive trading empire out of the harsh landscape that is now the American southwest. Nearby Pueblo Bonito was the largest building in North America until the late 1800s. Today, a national park protects Chaco Canyon from the predatory fingers of mining companies and oil drillers. But beyond the park boundary, precious lands stuffed with Chacoan ruins and still home to Navajo families have been leased out to mining and drilling companies for decades. The heavy roadways constructed to connect these leasing parcels have criss-crossed the hundreds of square miles of archaeological evidence of Chacoan culture that still remain after a millennium. http://bit.ly/2lKbVlX – Think Progress

Caring for the Incredible Dyck Collection at the Verde Valley Archaeology Center
Many of the artifacts on display in the Verde Valley Archaeology Center’s Dyck Collection are “relatively permanent,” said Ken Zoll, the center’s executive director. Though relatively permanent in this case means that they are on display for the year, it’s still more long-term than the collection’s textiles, which are more sensitive to light and must be rotated out every five months, Zoll said. Last week, VVAC swapped out weavings for the third time since the Dyck Collection first went on display. http://bit.ly/2lKg1e7 – Verde Independent

Blogs Worth Reading: Clovis in Outer Space
In 2014, Steve Lee, a space scientist at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS), approached me with an interesting proposition. An astronaut friend, Kjell Lindgren, was going to the International Space Station and could take along a small container of personal effects. Lindgren had graciously asked the museum for a contribution. In deciding what object to send into space, the first criterion is size. The object has to be small, so many intriguing options (like an Egyptian sarcophagus) are immediately ruled out. Redundancy is a second criterion—you don’t want to send a unique specimen (say, the Hope Diamond) in case it gets lost, broken, or destroyed. A third factor is resiliency—a rocket’s launch, re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, and landing involve a lot of vibration. Maybe it goes without saying, but you wouldn’t want to send a fragile glass vase on a space mission. Ultimately, the museum’s anthropology staff decided to send a 13,000-year-old stone spear point from Illinois. http://bit.ly/2lKcqMY – Steve Nash via Sapiens

Archaeology Southwest Wishes Frank Cope a Fine Retirement, and Thanks for All You Have Done for Mesa Verde
Frank Cope has spent a lifetime keeping some of the most beautiful places on earth running smoothly. Cope will retire at the end of this month after 17 years as the chief of maintenance at Mesa Verde National Park.  Before settling down in Southwest Colorado, Cope and his wife, Jill Blumenthal, worked at national parks all over the country — from the Everglades in Florida to Mount Rainier in Washington state. http://bit.ly/2lKl8ei – Cortez Journal

Technology in Archaeology Workshop April 27-29 in Fredericksburg, TX
Another new TAS Academy for 2017, we are very excited to offer for the first time Technology in Archeology in Fredericksburg! Participants will be introduced to exciting methods such as Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, geophysical survey methods, aerial drone recordation, and 3D scanning are also planned topics. This course will introduce these technologies in an archeological application within a state of the art classroom setting at the Hill Country University Center. Outdoor activities will include SfM, geophysical survey, and drone recordation at the nearby Fort Martin Scott. Instructors: Charles Koenig, Tiffany Osburn, Dr. Zac Selden, and Arlo McKee. Registration deadline is April 14. Fredericksburg offers incredible outdoor opportunities such as the nearby Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, shopping, historic sites, wineries, and much more. Lodging opportunities range from nice hotels, an incredible variety of bed and breakfasts, camping, RV parks, and more. Homepage: http://bit.ly/2lL2XVK  Registration fee $100 plus TAS membership required. The registration deadline is April 14. Scholarships are available, please apply! http://bit.ly/2lLbtUD – TAS

Visit Archaeology Southwest at the Tucson Festival of Books!
Come by Booth #114 at the Tucson Festival of Books to experience Hands-On Archaeology activities with Allen Denoyer, purchase Archaeology Southwest Magazine and other publications, and meet staff and volunteers from Archaeology Southwest. The Festival of Books will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, 2017, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on the main mall at the University of Arizona. http://bit.ly/2lKsoXw – Archaeology Southwest

Arizona Archaeology Month – Verde Valley
Archaeology and history buffs rejoice: The Arizona Parks and Trails Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month, held in March, provides activities throughout the Verde Valley.  According to Arizona State Parks Public Information Officer Monica Enriquez, the events are intended to preserve cultural resources through education. Each year, the ASPD leverages its own resources along with other organizations toward this effort. http://bit.ly/2lK6Nyn – Journal AZ.com

Arizona Archaeology Month – Williams, AZ
To celebrate Archaeology Month Kaibab National Forest has scheduled free events throughout March in the Williams area. Every Saturday in March will be interpretive hikes to Keyhole Sink Petroglyphs, meeting at the Oak Hill Snow Play area at 2 p.m. The hike is 0.6 miles each way, and last about 2 hours. Participants should dress warmly and prepare to get wet and muddy, especially if the waterfall is running. http://bit.ly/2lK8nQM – Arizona Daily Sun

Lecture Opportunity – Queen Creek
Desert Foothills Chapter – AAS presents on March 8th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at no charge, Deborah Slaney. Zuni carver Leekya Deyuse (known to as Leekya) emerged in the early 1900s as the preeminent maker of stone figural sculptures, fetishes, mosaic work, and figural jewelry in the 20th century. This talk celebrates his legacy and those of his fellow carvers and descendants. The presentation is also the basis for the very first comprehensive exhibit on Leekya and his family demonstrating how his descendants have adopted innovative and independent marketing strategies in the 21st century. The meeting is held in the community building (Maitland Hall) at The Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (near the Dairy Queen). http://bit.ly/2imIwP4 – Desert Foothills Chapter of the Arizona Archaeology Society

Lecture Opportunities – Tucson
The National Park Service’s Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC) is featuring five unique lectures and tours for the public during Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month.  Admission is free of charge, but seating and tours are limited. Please call 520-791-6416 for reservations. All events take place from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. The WACC is located at 255 N. Commerce Park Loop, Tucson, 85745. Visitors are welcome to bring a lunch to eat while they enjoy the presentations. On Monday, March 6 T.J. Ferguson, Professor, School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, and Editor, Anthropological Papers of the University of Arizona, will present Salt Trail investigations at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  On Tuesday, March 7,
Homer Thiel, Historical Archaeologist, and Senior Project Director at Desert Archaeology, Inc., will present the findings of a recent collaborative project with the National Park Service at the ruins of Los Santos Angeles de Guevavi, built in 1751, and which is today, a part of Tumacacori National Historical Park. On Wednesday, March 8 National Park Service Southern Arizona Acting Archeologist, Matt Guebard, will talk about recent investigations at Tuzigoot National Monument in the Verde Valley, Arizona. On Thursday, March 9, Larry Ludwig, National Park Service Historian and Site Manager, will discuss recent investigations at Fort Bowie National Historical Park in Southeastern Arizona. On Friday, March 10, Christopher Caseldine, Arizona State University, will address Hohokam archaeology and some recent rare and interesting findings at Casa Grande National Monument.  http://bit.ly/2lKmV33 – Willcox Range News

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Archaeological Society, Archaeological Society of America, is pleased to present George Crawford, Director, Blackwater Draw National Historic Landmark, Eastern New Mexico University on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at 7:30 at the Pecos Trail Cafe, 2239 Old Peco Trail, Santa FE, NM. His subject is: Early Humans in North America; Journalism, Hype, and Understanding Real Science.

Letter Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Dr. William Walker, Archaeologist and Professor of Anthropology, New Mexico State University and Co-Editor, Contemporary Archaeologies of the American Southwest and Warfare in Cultural Context who will give a lecture When Clouds Are Ancestors on March 6 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Ancient Sites Ancient Stories Lecture Series. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary. Refreshments are served. Seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt tel. 505 466-2775; email: southwest seminar@aol.com; website: http://southwestseminars.org

Tour Opportunity – Tucson
The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum is now offering guided walking tours of the Turquoise Trail. March 1, March 5, and April 30, 2017. 10 am – 12:30 pm $12 per person Originally designed by Marjorie Cunningham and Gayle Hartmann, knowledgeable historians and members of the Tucson Presidio Trust at the time, the Turquoise Trail is a 2.5-mile walking tour of downtown Tucson that follows a turquoise line and leads walkers past many architectural and artistic gems important to Tucson’s history. Participants must be able to walk the 2.5-mile distance in approximately 2.5 hours. They are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen and bring water and snacks. The tour is not recommended for young children. Registration is available at http://www.TucsonPresidio.com, for the initial tours, which will be held on March 1, March 5, and April 30. Additional tour dates are being planned.

Lithic Workshop Opportunity – Tucson
On Saturday March 4 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. flintknapper Sam Greenleaf teaches an arrowhead-making and flintknapping workshop at Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, 2201 W. 44th Street, Tucson. Participants will learn how to make arrowheads, spear points, and other flaked stone artifacts from obsidian and other stone like ancient peoples did. The class is designed to foster understanding of how prehistoric peoples made essential tools, not to make artwork for sale. $35 fee ($28 for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary members) includes all materials and equipment. Reservations required by 5 p.m. Thursday March 2nd: 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org.

Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS) is pleased to present Robert Weiner on Monday, March 20th at 7:30 pm in the University Medical Center’s Duval Auditorium (1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson 85724), who will discuss, Gambling Dice and Speaking Birds: New Approaches to Ritual Power at Chaco Canyon. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please visit the AAHS website: http://www.az-arch-and-hist.org/, or contact John D. Hall at jhall@sricrm.com with questions about this or any other AAHS program.