Celebrating Tucson (S-cuk Son)

Celebrating Tucson (S-cuk Son)
The region is part of the traditional territory of the O’odham people, who have been here since time immemorial. The Spanish place name Tucson is in fact derived from the O’odham S-cuk Son, “at the base of the black hill,” also known today as Sentinel Peak—Tucson’s birthplace. Ancestors of today’s O’odham people ranged, settled, and farmed this land, from the deep past into the historic era. The Tucson Presidio was founded on August 20, 1775, so by that accounting, the 20th is marked as the town’s 244th birthday. Visit the website of the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation to learn more: https://tucsonpresidio.com/HistoryOriginalPresidio.

Commentary: Tell Congress You Support Protecting Greater Chaco
This year already has seen significant steps toward protecting Chaco Culture National Historical Park, nearby tribal communities and the surrounding ancestral cultural landscape from oil and gas development. Despite the hyperpartisanship in Washington, D.C., we have a unique opportunity to move legislation that will help make permanent the federal protections. http://bit.ly/31XobUh – Ernie Atencio and Paul F. Reed in the Santa Fe New Mexican

Continuing Coverage: Interview with Retired BLM Official Kit Muller
In order to get insight into the future of this work and the potential implications of the BLM headquarters move, the Observer talked to Kit Muller. Recently retired from the BLM after a 38-year career with the bureau, Muller spent much of the past two decades working to better understand (and respond to) the impacts of landscape-scale changes on the American West, including climate change, wild land fire, invasive species, urban growth and industrial development. The following is a summary of our conversation, edited for clarity. http://bit.ly/31W6u7h – Living Landscape Observer

Standing up for Historic Mesa AZ
Kate Singleton seemed like the perfect person to rebuild Mesa’s historic preservation program when she started her job with the city in April. She drew accolades for her work over a 41-year career devoted to preserving history in Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin, Texas. But less than four months on the job, Singleton resigned — accusing city officials of hindering her attempts to overhaul Mesa’s outdated preservation program and refusing to listen to her ideas. ”I have encountered reluctance to change or strengthen regulations, even when that was the logical approach and required by the city’s status as a certified local government and federal law,’’ Singleton wrote in a stinging letter of resignation to Planning Director Nana Appiah dated July 29 with an effective date of Aug. 4. http://bit.ly/31QnsE9 – East Valley Tribune

Call to Applicants: Fred Plog Memorial Fellowship, Society for American Archaeology
Graduate student members of the SAA who are writing dissertations on the North American Southwest/Northwest or on a topic on which Fred Plog did research—the given examples are culture change and regional interaction—are eligible to apply. While the majority of past recipients have worked in the U.S. Southwest or northern Mexico, applications from students working elsewhere have also been successful. The amount of the award is $1,000, and the nominee must have reached ABD status by the 2020 SAA Meeting. Full application instructions are attached and can also be found on the SAA website at https://www.saa.org/career-practice/awards/awards-detail/fred-plog-memorial-fellowship. Note that applications are due by the end of the day on Monday, November 4. Questions and applications can be sent to me as committee chair at kdungan@asu.edu.

Symposium Announcement: Rock Art 2019 Symposium Registration and Call for Papers Now Open
The San Diego Rock Art Association announces Rock Art 2019, San Diego’s 44th Annual Rock Art Symposium, featuring presentations on all areas of rock art research. Doors open on November 2 at 8:00 a.m. for check-in and onsite registration, with the program beginning at 9:00. Online Registration and Call for Papers are now open. Registration is $30 for all, with complimentary registration for Native Americans. https://www.sandiegorockart.org/symposium.html

Job Opportunity: Excavation Field Crew Members, Phoenix AZ
Excavation crew members are sought for excavation projects in Phoenix, with start dates from September to mid-October. Excavation experience is required. Experience with Hohokam contexts is a plus. Send a resume along with a cover letter indicating your experience to tucson@desert.com. https://desert.com/open-positions/

Lecture Opportunity, Alcalde NM
Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Talks: Best of the Best Petroglyph Recordings of 2018. On August 27, MPPP’s own Recording Coordinator, Candie Borduin, presents the most spectacular, well made and well documented petroglyphs the team discovered and recorded during 2018. Light Refreshments served at 6:00 p.m., lecture begins at 6:30 p.m. at The Heritage Center, 848 State Road 68. $5 Suggested Donation. https://www.mesaprietapetroglyphs.org/mesa-prieta-petroglyph-talks—upcoming.html

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Questions? sat-editor@archaeologysouthwest.org