Continuing Coverage: Chaco Buffer Zone

Continuing Coverage: Chaco Buffer Zone
Months after the U.S. House passed a bill that would create a long-sought, 10-mile drilling ban on federal land around Chaco Culture National Historical Park, the Navajo Nation is demanding Congress cut the proposed protection zone in half. The Navajo Nation Council said the measure seeking a reduction in the Chaco buffer zone, approved Thursday on a vote of 18-1, is in response to concerns about the effects it could have on Navajo people who own land in the area. http://bit.ly/36zcJQz – Santa Fe New Mexican

The Navajo vote comes despite support from the pueblos, Navajo President Jonathan Nez and some individual Navajo communities for the more expansive protective zone. It highlights the polarity that has long existed within the Navajo Nation’s branches of government and with other tribes. Nez said Friday he believed the tribe was unified on the 10-mile buffer and that much of the discussion in the council was one-sided. The vote, he said, could affect movement of the bills in Congress. http://bit.ly/2U4utRl – KNAU (NPR)

Paul F. Reed, Chaco Scholar and Preservation Archaeologist at Archaeology Southwest, issued the following statement: “The 10-mile cultural protection zone, as presented in congressional bills H.R. 2181 (passed House in 2019) and Senate 1079 (pending), around Chaco Culture National Historical Park was a compromise that was years in the making, involving discussions with multiple Native American Tribes, including the Navajo Nation, and the All-Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG). The zone is intended to protect 12 Chacoan great house communities that largely lie between 5 and 10 miles from the Chaco Park boundary. Reducing the protection zone to 5 miles will leave most of the sites in these 12 ancient Chacoan communities at risk from oil-gas development. The withdrawal of fluid minerals, as specified in H.R. 2181 and S. 1079, applies only to Federal surface-controlled lands. The remaining lands in the 10-mile zone, including Navajo Nation tribal trust, allotments, and other private lands will continue to be available to infrastructure development, oil-gas leasing, and other activities.” http://bit.ly/2uFWHHr – Archaeology Southwest

Continuing Coverage: Border Construction’s Impact on Tohono O’odham Ancestral Lands
The leader of the Tohono O’odham Nation is once again vowing to fight against the construction of new border fencing along their ancestral lands in southwestern Arizona, as works crews encroach sites of historical and cultural significance to the O’odham people. Some of the key locations include an ancient burial site located in the immediate vicinity of existing border barriers, as well as Quitobaquito Springs—the only natural source of water for dozens of miles around—where construction crews discovered in October fragments of human remains believed to have belonged to O’odham ancestors centuries ago. The spring is still used as part of the tribe’s sacred Salt Pilgrimage. http://bit.ly/2RSWPLw – Arizona Republic

Commentary: Friend of Cedar Mesa Urges BLM to Reconsider Fracking Bluff’s Watershed
The BLM has given Bluff residents and the American public until February 6 to comment on a proposal by EOG Resources to drill oil wells and frack on sensitive lands—located within the town of Bluff’s watershed and inside the 1.9 million-acre national monument boundary proposed for permanent protection by the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition. The proposed wells are immediately adjacent to the area of Bears Ears that President Trump attempted to remove from the monument specifically at the request of the State of Utah to eliminate known mineral development “conflicts.” http://bit.ly/2RSHMBw – Friends of Cedar Mesa (Editors’ note: Specific instructions are given at the end of FCM’s analysis)

Video: Why Native American Voices Matter
On December 1, 2019, Dr. Chip Colwell (Denver Museum of Nature and Science) presented “Why Native American Voices Matter” for Archaeology Southwest’s Tea and Archaeology series, with special guest commenters Octavius Seowtewa (Pueblo of Zuni) and Bernard Siquieros (Tohono O’odham Nation). https://youtu.be/D93vXS7bM8I

Video: The Bears Ears Water Project
On Tuesday, January 7, 2020, R. E. Burrillo (SWCA Environmental Consultants) discussed Bears Ears in his Archaeology Café presentation, “The Bears Ears Water Project: What Environmental Chemistry Reveals about Agriculture and Landscape Archaeology in the Greater Cedar Mesa Area.” https://youtu.be/7t6S5zMRdb8

Commentary: Protecting Pinyon and Juniper Forests
Rooted in survival and ceremony, cultural uses of pinyon and juniper for the Diné, Hopi, Paiute, Ute, and other Native peoples range from food and medicine to firewood and art. The importance of the trees goes far beyond calories, warmth, and shelter, though. To Indigenous peoples, pinyon and juniper represent a way of life—a long-standing connection to the land—that continues to this day. http://bit.ly/2NTtnnv – Kamran Zafar at the blog of the Grand Canyon Trust

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Offers Reward for Assistance with Investigation of Cultural Heritage Crime
National Park Service police have been investigating the illegal excavation of an ancient mountain-goat hunting camp. They discovered someone had used hand tools to dig up the “Rock Shelter” site outside the town of Newhalem, Washington, in June 2019. The dig caused “irretrievable damage,” according to the park service. “Whatever artifacts were taken or removed probably didn’t have a lot of monetary value to folks,” said Scott Schuyler, the Upper Skagit tribe’s cultural policy representative. “But to the tribe, they’re priceless and irreplaceable because … in an essence, they’re our culture.” http://bit.ly/2GskQ6O – KUOW (NPR)

Blog: Meat: What’s for Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper!
There were probably few, if any, vegans or vegetarians in southern Arizona during the pre-contact, Spanish, Mexican, or American Territorial periods. People hunted or raised a variety of animals. We recover animal bones during our archaeological excavations. What can they tell us? https://desert.com/meat/ – Jenny Waters and Homer Thiel in the Field Journal, blog of Desert Archaeology, Inc.

REMINDER: Archaeology Café Welcomes Kyle Woodson February 4
“Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a sanctuary where you can still feel a connection with the past. The centerpiece is the four-story tall adobe “Great House” (Casa Grande) that was built in the early 1300s. For the Akimel O’odham and other descendant Native American tribes (such as the Hopi and Zuni), Casa Grande Ruins is a sacred place with deep spiritual meaning. It figures prominently in traditional oral histories and serves as a tangible reminder of distant ancestors.” Join us on February 4, 2020, when Kyle Woodson discusses the history and significance of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. We gather at The Loft Cinema (3233 E. Speedway Blvd.) around 5:30 p.m. to visit and enjoy food and beverages. Programs begin at 6 p.m. in Theatre 1. http://bit.ly/2FS6bSi

2020 Archaeological Field School Opportunities
Join us for the Archaeology Southwest/University of Arizona Preservation Archaeology Field School in southwestern New Mexico, May 25 through July 5, 2020. Offered by Archaeology Southwest and the University of Arizona, this unique six-week program provides students with an opportunity to learn excavation, survey, experimental archaeology, and laboratory methods in a beautiful, remote, and archaeologically exciting part of the U.S. Southwest. Undergraduates will receive a stipend to support their attendance through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program (NSF REU 1851763). Applications are due March 6, 2020. http://bit.ly/38LnlgB – Archaeology Southwest

Apply now for Crow Canyon’s College Field School at Crow Canyon. This five week-program is designed to immerse students in the fundamentals of archaeological research and is certified by the Register of Professional Archaeologists. Graduate and undergraduate credits available. Deadline is March 2, 2020. Send applications to Dr. Susan Ryan, sryan@crowcanyon.org. https://www.crowcanyon.org/index.php/programs-for-college-students – Crow Canyon Archaeological Center

Job Opportunity: Director, Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio seeks a dynamic leader to serve as Director of the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR). Established in 1974, CAR is an active archaeological contract facility, a state-accredited collections repository, a research unit within the Department of Anthropology, and a liaison with the local community in matters of cultural heritage (http://car.utsa.edu/index.html). CAR’s staff of 15 employees work at the University’s Main Campus in a facility with 12,500 square feet of lab, office, classroom, and curation space. CAR secures more than one million dollars in contracts annually and curates over 15 million items from the Pre-Columbian, colonial, and historic periods. CAR is housed in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. The director is a staff member of the Department of Anthropology and reports to the department chair. Salary is commensurate with experience. https://jobs.utsa.edu/postings/14860

Job Opportunity: College Fellow in the Archaeology of Inequality, Harvard University
The Department of Anthropology seeks applications for a College Fellow in the Archaeology of Inequality, with a preference for students working on Environmental or Forensic / Bioarchaeology. The appointment is expected to begin on August 1, 2020. The College Fellow will have teaching responsibilities, with 25 percent of the appointment reserved for the Fellow’s own research. Teaching duties will include one course on some aspect of the archaeology of inequality, a methodological course, and one other course to be determined by the interests of the Fellow in conjunction with departmental needs. The Fellow may also advise and evaluate senior theses. The appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year, contingent on performance, position availability, curricular need, and divisional dean authorization. http://bit.ly/2U3z5XN – via Dr. Jason Ur, Harvard University

Workshop Opportunity, NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is now accepting applications for its NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshop for Teachers: Mesa Verde National Park and Pueblo Indian History. Program dates are June 14–20 and July 5–11, 2020. The project is tuition-free and includes a stipend. Applicants must be a K–12 educator or administrator, a United States citizen or resident. Applicants may apply for both programs but can only participate in one. Applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2020. Send application materials to NEH@crowcanyon.org. https://www.crowcanyon.org/index.php/neh-educators

Internship Opportunities, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez CO
The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center offers paid summer internships to undergraduate and graduate students in archaeology, anthropology, education, and related fields. Application deadline is March 1, 2020. Send applications to Human Resources, jdove@crowcanyon.org. https://www.crowcanyon.org/index.php/internship

Exhibition Opportunity: From the Edge of Center: The Chacoan Outliers, El Paso TX
“We are pleased to present this exhibit on the Chacoan outliers to the El Paso community,” said El Paso Museum of Archaeology Director, Jeff Romney. “It is not often that we get to see archaeological materials from the Four Corners region at the Museum…” The exhibit features items from the museum’s permanent collection as well as items on loan from Salmon Ruins including ceramic vessels, beads, pendants, perishable materials such as sandals, and other items. El Paso Museum of Archaeology officials add that they are proud to present this exhibition in cooperation with Salmon Ruins the San Juan County Museum Association. http://bit.ly/2uKobLN – El Paso Herald-Post

Lecture Opportunity, Santa Fe NM
On Sunday, February 2, at 1:00 p.m., the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture will host Dr. Joseph “Woody” Aguilar for “An Indigenous Archaeology of a Colonial Encounter in the Pueblo Southwest,” which is based on Aguilar’s research and fieldwork over the last decade. An enrolled member of San Ildefonso Pueblo, Aguilar received a Doctorate of Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania last year. Aguilar’s primary research focuses on the archaeology of the Southwest, with a specific interest in Spanish-Pueblo relations during the late 17th Century. His general research interests include indigenous archaeology, landscape archaeology, and Tribal historic preservation. His dissertation research—a collaborative project with San Ildefonso Pueblo—examines Tewa resistance to the Spanish Reconquest efforts in the latter part of the Pueblo Revolt Era (1680–1696), as evidenced in the archaeological, historical, and oral records. http://indianartsandculture.org/calendar&eventID=4475

Lecture Opportunities, Tucson AZ
On Tuesday, February 4, at 5:00 p.m., the Archaeological Institute of America, Tucson Society, Departments of History and Classics, School of Anthropology, and Hellenic Cultural Foundation will welcome Dr. Mary Voyatsis for “Mt. Lykaion Through the Ages: Recent Excavations, Future Directions.” The talk will take place on the University of Arizona campus, Haury Room 129, 1009 E South Campus Dr. http://bit.ly/38QjGxZ

Lecture Opportunity, Cortez CO
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeology Society is pleased to present Timothy Kearns on Tuesday, February 4, at 7:00 p.m. at the Methodist Church, 515 Park Street, to discuss “Basketmaker III on the Chuska Slope, Northwest New Mexico.” Tim will discuss the centuries-long Ancestral Pueblo Basketmaker period occupation of the Chuska Slope in northwest New Mexico. Contact Kari Schleher at 505-269-4475 with questions.

Lecture Opportunity, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coolidge AZ
On February 5, Casa Grande Ruins will host Allen Denoyer (Archaeology Southwest) for a lecture titled “Early Agriculture in Southern Arizona.” Denoyer will speak about how discoveries made in Tucson’s Santa Cruz River floodplain are revealing aspects of people’s lives during the Early Agricultural period. He will share how these early farmers created and maintained their field systems and irrigation canals, and how people continued to use the floodplain for agriculture for the next 4,000 years. The program begins at noon in the Casa Grande Ruins visitor center theater at 1100 W Ruins Drive. http://bit.ly/2U4Fi5D

Lecture Opportunity, Durango CO
The public is invited to the next meeting of the San Juan Basin Archaeological Society at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, at the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College. Kellam Throgmorton will present “Social Groups at the Basketmaker-Pueblo Transition: Interpretations from the Procession Panel.” There will be a pre-meeting social at 6:30. http://www.sjbas.org

Lecture Opportunity, Cave Creek AZ
On February 12, at 7:00 p.m., the Desert Foothills Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society will welcome John Welch (Archaeology Southwest) for “Building a Model for Community-Based Archaeological Resource Protection: The White Mountain Apache Experiment.” Despite several generations of countermeasures, looting and grave robbing continue to damage and desecrate cultural resources across the United States and around the world. Native American Indian tribes generally value cultural resources as ancestral footprints and wellsprings of community identity, as well as data sources. For this reason, and because cultural resource sites are not partitioned from living communities on tribal lands, as they are on federal and state lands, tribes are disproportionately threatened and impacted by archaeological resource crime. Community Room (Maitland Hall) at The Good Shepard of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 East Cave Creek Road. https://www.azarchsoc.org/event-3542702

We’re happy to help get the word out, but we’re not mind readers! Please submit news, book announcements, and events at this link for consideration: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/submit-to-sat/

Questions? sat-editor@archaeologysouthwest.org