A Zuni Ahayuda Goes Home

A Zuni Ahayuda Goes Home
For four decades, the Zuni tribe has scoured the world looking to reclaim its war god idols [sic]. While most are found in southwest museums, one was found at Albion College. The war god—also known as an Ahayuda—is being returned to the Zuni, a southwestern U.S. Native American tribe, during a special private ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 30. http://bit.ly/2oGrNIx — Michigan Live

“Most of them that have come into public collections are objects that were taken away from Zuni lands. They were taken from altars that are out in the open,” says Bille Wickre, an art history professor at Albion. http://bit.ly/2wIYZDR — NPR

Field Museum’s Statement on Cultural Catastrophe in Brazil
It is with a profound sense of loss that our museums share our condolences with our colleagues in Brazil and the public they serve. The importance of the collections lost during this tragic event cannot be overstated. The National Museum is home to priceless artifacts and specimens that hold incalculable value to science—from major pieces of Brazil’s scientific and cultural heritage, to the historic building itself, this is a loss not only for Brazil but for the world. http://bit.ly/2NNJVez — Field Museum

ASU Student Veterans Honored for Work on tDAR
During their time at the Center, the student veterans made huge progress in curating over 1,126 documents, 2,234 images, and 386 datasets which span over 12 USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts. Their hard work resulted in large amounts of data from the VCP-rehabilitated collections being made more widely available to the public and, furthermore, making them accessible for education, research, and modern archaeological investigations. Individually, each of the tDAR VCP team made significant contributions to the program. http://bit.ly/2NRr567 — Arizona State University

‘Beyond Repair’: Vandalism at Bandelier National Monument
The National Park Service needs the public’s help finding a vandal who struck a historic site at a New Mexico national park. Park officials are in disbelief at the damage done at an archeological site called Duchess Castle at Bandelier National Monument in Los Alamos earlier this summer. “The site has been significantly impacted and the damage is irreparable,” Bandelier park officials said in a news release. http://bit.ly/2NPsjPg — KRQE

Only 2 Places out of 15 for Tribes on Advisory Committee for Bears Ears
A 15-person advisory committee for the downsized Bears Ears National Monument on Utah land considered sacred to Native Americans will include two spots for tribal representatives — three less than what a tribal coalition thinks they should get. The Bureau of Land Management said Thursday that it will accept nominations until Oct. 1 for spots earmarked for people from different groups who are interested in contributing opinions about the management of the 315 square mile-monument (816 sq. kilometers) in southeastern Utah. http://bit.ly/2oHcaRj — Deseret News

Advocacy Opportunity: Uranium Mining in Bears Ears
The U.S. Department of Commerce is considering asking President Trump to impose uranium mining quotas. In a saturated uranium market where we already have enough uranium to meet defense needs through 2060 and low demand has led to low prices, the quotas would artificially boost prices and create much greater interest in mining on public lands. With mining claims already in place on the lands protected by the original Bears Ears National Monument, a uranium quota and subsequent higher prices could have a direct effect. Artificially inflated prices would make these mining claims more valuable. The Department of Commerce has opened the proposed quotas to public comment until September 10. Please take action and urge them not to recommend these quotas. http://bit.ly/2oInnkg — Native American Rights Fund

Commentary: Our National Monuments Don’t Deserve This
Large cuts to major national monuments appear never to have been in doubt. Indeed, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended substantial reductions to national monuments across the country, reductions that President Trump claims he can make unilaterally under the American Antiquities Act of 1906. https://wapo.st/2NOLPeY — Washington Post

Follow-On Commentary: We Agree, and No, He Can’t
As law professors, we disagree with the editorial’s offhand comment that the president has “wide discretion” to undermine monuments. Diverse plaintiffs, including Native American nations, conservation groups, outdoor advocates and scientists, have sued the president, arguing that his repeal-and-replace of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante was illegal. A federal court will decide the question for the first time: Does the American Antiquities Act authorize the president to reverse monuments? The answer is no. https://wapo.st/2PCUz8i — Washington Post

Colorado Lawmakers Support the Land and Water Conservation Fund
“In Colorado, you can barely throw a stone without hitting an LWCF investment,” Polis said in the letter, noting that Colorado’s “crown jewel” parks have all benefited from the LWCF, including Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Great Sand Dunes national parks. http://bit.ly/2PDNvbM — Durango Herald

A Naming Ceremony
Commentator Scott Thybony had the honor recently of attending a Hopi baby naming ceremony. His good friend, tribal judge Delfred Leslie, had a new granddaughter and wanted Scott to come out to First Mesa for the dawn ceremony. He told Scott to be prepared to offer a name for the baby, as tradition expects of all guests. In this month’s Canyon Commentary, Scott talks about ancestors, the mixing of traditions, and the cultural mosaic of the Colorado Plateau. http://bit.ly/2wLFkD9 — KNAU (NPR)

Network for Landscape Conservation Releases Report
The purpose of this report is to make a meaningful contribution to the evolving practice of landscape conservation by sharing the insights that emerged from the 2017 Forum. The report provides an in-depth look at five important landscape conservation topics, with a focus on recent innovations, on-the-ground examples, and action-oriented strategies. Each chapter closes with a set of five-year aspirational benchmarks. Building pathways toward these benchmarks will require additional collaboration, inspiration, and concerted action. http://bit.ly/2PBZfv4 — Network for Landscape Conservation (opens as a PDF)

Colorado Archaeological Society 2018 Annual Meeting in Cortez CO
The Hisatsinom chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society, is hosting the society’s annual conference in Cortez CO on Saturday, September 22, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Program speakers include; Dr. Mark Stiger, William Tsosie Jr., Dr. Mark Varien, Dr. Susan Ryan, and others. Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, is the featured banquet speaker. Registration information: https://sites.google.com/site/hisatsinomchapter1/cas-annual-meeting.

Agnese N. Haury Graduate Fellowship in Archaeological Dendrochronology
The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona, Tucson seek a motivated Ph.D. candidate interested in using dendrochronological samples from archaeological or historical contexts to address important questions concerning  archaeological dendrochronology  and past human/environment interaction. Geographic area open. The fellow will receive multi-year funding with a stipend of at least 20,000 USD/year, health insurance, and full tuition waiver. The successful candidate will be expected to develop additional funding sources for his or her specific project.  Candidates must apply to, and be accepted into, the School of Anthropology and will work towards a Ph.D. in Anthropology. As part of the application package, applicants must include a statement describing their interests in archaeological dendrochronology and, if appropriate, a discussion of a possible project to be conducted during their term as the Agnese N. Haury Fellow.  For additional information, contact Ronald H. Towner, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Dendrochronology and Anthropology, Agnese and Emil Haury Endowed Chair in Archaeological Dendrochronology, Laboratory of Tree-ring Research and School of Anthropology, The University of Arizona, BBTRB 1215 E Lowell, Tucson, AZ 85721. (520) 621-6465. rht@email.arizona.edu.

Archaeology Southwest Announces 11^th/7^th Season of Archaeology Café
Last year’s season focused on helping residents of Tucson and Phoenix learn more about the deep history of their local communities. The 2018–2019 season will build on this base and challenge Café-goers to look beyond their local communities’ histories and make connections between the places they call home and the broader Southwestern region. A major new feature this season will be the addition of live-feeding via Facebook, which will allow those who cannot travel to the Café venues to still participate in each program as it happens. (Link leads to schedule.) http://bit.ly/2NRB3Vr — Archaeology Southwest

Job Opportunity, Shumla
Shumla is offering an exciting opportunity in our Comstock (TX) Headquarters. The Archaeology Director will be responsible for managing archaeological projects – including the Alexandria Project, supervising Shumla archaeologists, interns and volunteers, and achieving Shumla’s mission through archaeological programming. The research leadership team at Shumla is a vibrant group of collaborators that consists of the Executive Director, Science Director, and the Shumla Endowed Research Professor at Texas State University, as well as the newly formed Archaeology Director position. The selected candidate will report to the Executive Director and will be an integral part of strategy development and raising funds for archaeological projects. They will also lead the archaeological team in the lab and field hiking across rugged terrain in extreme temperatures. http://bit.ly/2wFhqJx — SAA, Shumla

Lecture Opportunities, Santa Fe NM
Southwest Seminars Presents Ricardo Caté (Santo Domingo Pueblo), Humorist, Cartoon Artist and Author of Without Reservations Presents Fake Cartoons of Ricardo Caté and The Drawings and Cartoons of Standing Rock who will give a stand-up comedy routine Here to Make You Laugh on September 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the annual Native Culture Matters Lecture Series.

Southwest Seminars Presents David Grant Noble, Archaeological Writer, Editor, and Photographer: Ancient Ruins and Rock Art of the Southwest; An Archaeological Guide; In Search of Chaco: New Approaches to an Archaeological Enigma; The Mesa Verde World; In the Places of the Spirits; Living the Ancient Southwest who will give a lecture Wild Rice Harvest of the Ojibway: Photographs of David Grant Noble on September 10 at 6:00 p.m. at Hotel Santa Fe.

Admission is by subscription or $15 at the door; No reservations necessary. Refreshments are served. Seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt at tel: 505 466-2775; email: southwestseminar@aol.com; website: southwestseminars.org

Lecture Opportunity, Aztec NM
On Friday, September 7, Curtis Quam, Museum Technician and Cultural Educator, from the A:Shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center in Zuni NM will come share his background and the Zuni Origin Story. The program is free and will take place in the Aztec Ruins Visitor Center at 7:00 pm. Come share your respect and appreciation for this unique experience. For more information, call 505.334.6174. http://bit.ly/2PDI3Wb — Aztec Ruins National Monument

Lecture Opportunity, Phoenix AZ
The Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society invites you to join us in the Pueblo Grande Museum Community Room on Tuesday, September 11, at 7:00 p.m., when Butch Farabee, Retired NPS Superintendent, will talk about the history of El Camino del Diablo, The Devil’s Highway, a brutal, 200-mile long, prehistoric and historic route from northern Sonora to Yuma and then on to the missions of California. Attendance is free and the public is welcome. The museum is located at 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. Join us for light refreshments before the meeting, followed by an interesting talk and a short Q&A period. For more information go to https://azarchsoc.wildapricot.org/Phoenix.

Lecture Opportunity, Taos NM
Taos Archaeological Society welcomes Dr. Bradley Vierra, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer at San Ildefonso Pueblo, who will speak on Early Maize: A Trip Through Time and Space. This lecture will visit archaeological sites from Mexico to the American Southwest. September 11, 2018, at Kit Carson Electric Board Room, 118 Cruz Alta Drive, Taos. http://www.taosarch.org, mackcampbell1@msn.com.

Lecture Opportunity, Tucson AZ
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS) is pleased to present Ronald Towner on Monday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Medical Center’s Duval Auditorium (1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson 85724), who will discuss The Forests and the Trees: Sourcing Construction Timbers at Aztec Ruins, New Mexico. 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 john.hall@terracon.com with questions about this or any other AAHS program.

Please submit news, book announcements, and events at this link for consideration: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/submit-to-sat/

Questions? sat-editor@archaeologysouthwest.org