Dear Friends,
Are you under 30? Do you have children or grandchildren who are under 20? (My grandkids are 6 and 8.) I ask because anyone younger than 20 or 30 years old should live at least another half-century. And there is a lot of uncertainty in those next 50 years.
Yes, as promised, I am returning to the climate change theme I raised last week.
I offer a simple suggestion for a book I think many might find compelling, and perhaps mind-changing. David Attenborough, who has directed and narrated nature videos for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) since the 1950s, lays out his life history against a timeline of global change.
Born in 1926, Attenborough does the math for us, stating his age as 94 as he writes. Attenborough elegantly illustrates how his life spans a transformation that is now bringing Earth to an existential crisis. So, imagine the 20- and 30-somethings I called out above living for another 60 or 70 years. If their lives are just beginning to unfold at a time of global crisis, what will the rest of their lives be like?
Attenborough sketches the downsides of that future. And he offers up optimistic steps—essential steps—toward changing the dangerous trajectory we are currently on.
Attenborough is an icon of science and nature. He is a rational voice, a voice some of us have literally heard for decades. There’s also a documentary version of his book, for those who prefer that format.
We can do this. We must do this.
Sincerely,
Dad & Grandpa
President & CEO, Archaeology Southwest
Help Stop Crimes against History on Tribal Lands
Theft, vandalism and grave robbing degrade Tribal sovereignty and senses of place, community, and security. Our mission is to end archaeological resource crime on Tribal lands and raise public awareness of the importance of heritage sites. Our focus is to protect archaeological sites and find, identify, and prosecute looters. With your support, we can end theft and vandalism of archaeological resources on Tribal lands and adjacent regions. We also have an anonymous tip line. savehistory.org | Learn More >>
Indigenous Archaeology in North America
Kent Lightfoot trained in archaeology when backhoes and front-end loaders tore through Native American sites. At the time, it didn’t occur to him that the land could actually feel pain—not until Kashaya Pomo tribal elders at Northern California’s Fort Ross Historic State Park set him straight. “They taught me that archaeological sites should be treated as living organisms that can feel pain if disturbed,” recalls Lightfoot, a UC Berkeley anthropology professor since 1987. “Looking back, that was the aha! moment that led to my vision for low-impact archaeology and reducing our footprint.” Yasmin Anwar in the Berkeley News | Read More >>
Commentary: Restoring Indigenous Place-Names
We need maps by Indigenous Peoples, for Indigenous Peoples. Moreover, existing GIS ecosystems need to be designed in ways that support Indigenous data sovereignty and visibility—for the benefit of all. Kelsey Leonard at ARCNEWS (ESRI) | Read More >>
Preservation Archaeologist and Chaco Scholar Paul F. Reed spoke about Indigenous place-names and renaming monuments in his monthly radio/video interview with KSJE Morning Program host Scott Michlin. KSJE 90.9 | View/Listen Now >>
Continuing Coverage: Oak Flat
The hearing before U.S. District Judge Steven Logan was the latest in a years-long fight to block the Resolution Copper Mine, a massive project that is the result of a land swap east of Superior, Arizona, between the mining company and the federal government. The U.S. Forest Service cleared the way for that transfer on Jan. 15, when it released a final environmental impact statement on the mine. Opponents argued Wednesday that the federal government violated their due process rights by rushing through the final approval last month, just days before President Donald Trump left office. They also claim the mine would violate their constitutional right to worship, and are asking Logan for a preliminary injunction to halt progress on the project while they pursue their suit. KOLD News 13 | Read More >>
The hearing Wednesday proceeded with the usual legal tussles over previous court rulings and what an obscure treaty enacted with Western Apache leaders nearly 170 years really meant. Apache Stronghold’s attorneys argued that the Western Apache peoples’ First Amendment right to practice their religion would suffer a devastating blow as Oak Flat, known to Apache people as Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, sinks more than 800 feet to form a nearly 2-mile-wide crater, the result of Resolution’s mining process to extract copper. Debra Utacia Krol in the Arizona Republic | Read More >>
Continuing Coverage and Commentary: Bears Ears
We remain open to any serious proposal or meeting to find a collaborative approach to protect and honor the Bears Ears landscape. Most important, time is of the essence to halt the desecration of our sacred sites and promote proper management following the increase in visitation to the Bears Ears landscape. Each day that restoration of the Monument is delayed presents another opportunity for looting and vandalism. Bears Ears is our shared treasure and we are eager to lend our knowledge of this landscape, with thousands of years of experience living, hunting and caring for this land, as collaborative managers alongside our Federal government partners. Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition | Read More >>
Sadly, the true message of Bears Ears has been lost—historic unity between tribes and solidarity between Indigenous and nonindigenous people centered around an unmatched cultural landscape. Bears Ears is a place of healing where there are many stories to be told, and we’re looking forward to telling those stories. But first, we must move beyond the overhyped narrative of conflict by setting things right. Willie Grayeyes and Kenneth Maryboy in the Salt Lake Tribune | Read More >>
From the low desert elevations to the highest mountain areas in Bears Ears, there’s evidence of 10,000 years of human occupation, said Lyle Balenquah, a Hopi archeologist who has studied the area extensively. “There has never been a time when the whole region has never been occupied by some Indigenous group, all the way back into the Paleolithic era and into the modern era,” Balenquah said. “It contains one of the densest concentrations of archaeological sites in the Southwest.” Small groups of archeologists have drawn maps in recent years, photographed multiple sites and analyzed a number of artifacts but Bears Ears remains scarcely documented, Balenquah said. Nicole Chavez at CNN | Read More >>
Commentary: The Restoration Project Has a Blueprint for Moving Forward
The damage is profound, but now the work of restoration can begin. Ten months before the November 2020 election, the two of us convened and led a volunteer team of diverse environmental leaders with government, nonprofit, private-sector and academic experience. They were from both coasts and the heartland, the West and the Southeast, rural America and the nation’s large cities. Meeting virtually as The Restoration Project, we worked over several months to create a carefully researched and prioritized list of the top 100 actions necessary to restore the nation’s environment. The plan was delivered to the Biden-Harris transition team and is available to the public at https://rproject.world/. Jonathan Jarvis and Gary Machlis in High Country News | Read More >>
In Memoriam: Dr. Vorsila L. Bohrer
Trailblazing ethnobotanist Vorsila Bohrer passed away on January 20, 2021. Read her obituary here >>
Blog: All about Clovis Points
In this post, I’ll explain how people made Clovis points and what’s important to look at in order to recognize them. You’ll see that it is possible to read a Clovis point like a map. Allen Denoyer at the Preservation Archaeology blog (Archaeology Southwest) | Read More >>
Podcast: Cultivating Indigenous Voices
Hosted and produced by Valentina Andrew, member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Cultivating Indigenous Voices is a 30-minute podcast show with the focus on sharing indigenous topics, stories, and community involvement within/surrounding the Chukson (Tucson) area. Educating the public through an indigenous lens has always been a passion of mine and having the space to do it heightens public awareness of local indigenous people. Interviewees are locals who are active in their communities helping create change and making an impact for future generations. KXCI 91.3 | Learn More >>
Feb. 11 Webinar: Thinking Like an Archaeologist
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center and the Dept. of Anthropology at Washington State University welcome Tim Kohler (WSU) for “Thinking Like an Archaeologist.” More information and Zoom registration here >>
Feb. 13 Virtual Celebration: Fort Lowell Day/La Reunión de El Fuerte
Each year the Fort Lowell Neighborhood (Tucson, AZ) puts on a celebration of the history of the Fort Lowell area and a reunion for families who have lived in the neighborhood for generations. Due to the pandemic, the 41st annual Fort Lowell Day/La Reunión de El Fuerte event will take place virtually on Saturday, February 13, as a series of videos on YouTube. Links to the videos will be posted on February 13 here, here, and here >>
Feb. 15 Webinar: Why Did the Chickens Cross the Desert?
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society welcomes Steven R. James (California State University, Fullerton) for “Zooarchaeology at Pueblo Grande and the Origin of Chickens in the American Southwest (or Why Did the Chickens Cross the Desert?).” More information and Zoom registration here >>
Feb. 16 Webinar: Fête Champêtre: Ritual Consumption in the Greek Countryside
The Tucson chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America and co-sponsors welcome Catherine Morgan (All Souls College, Oxford University) for “Fête Champêtre: Ritual Consumption in the Greek Countryside,” highlighting evidence for extra-urban religiosity long after the archaic period. More information and Zoom registration here >>
Video: 2020 Perspectives and Tools for Addressing Archaeological Resource Crime
Learn about the approaches and actions of the BIA-ASW ARPA team in this special webinar. Eight accomplished panelists present on their work to eliminate archaeological resource crime from Indian Country. The goal is to bring participants up to date on new strategies and tactics for preventing, investigating, prosecuting, and remediating these crimes. Archaeology Southwest | Watch Now >>
Video and Extended Content: Preservation Archaeology’s Role in Responding to Archaeological Resource Crimes
Preservation Archaeologist Stacy Ryan and Ranger/LE Liaison D. J. “Dusty” Whiting discuss “Preservation Archaeology’s Role in Responding to Archaeological Resource Crimes.” Stacy and D. J. explore the impact of looting and other resource crimes, as well as some of the ways they are currently combating this problem. Archaeology Café (Archaeology Southwest) | Watch Now >>
Job Opportunity: Eugene T. Polk Archaeology Internship at Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, in partnership with the Grand Canyon Conservancy, is seeking one archaeology intern to work as a crew member for the Grand Canyon Cultural Resource Management Program. The internship duration is 16 weeks, and duties are expected to begin between late May and early July, depending on the selectee’s availability. The intern will be compensated approximately $490 per week, and housing will be provided at the South Rim. For more information, or to apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and reference contact information to Donelle Huffer at donelle_huffer at nps dot gov.
Notice from Emily Tarantini: Perspectives on Voluntary Repatriation (or Return) of Private Collection Objects to Tribes
I am a graduate student in the Museum & Field Studies M.S. program at the University of Colorado, Boulder. I am conducting research about voluntary return of private collection objects between private individuals and Native American communities for my thesis. Your confidential participation in this approximately 10-minute survey will contribute to this research (closes 3/15/21). Thank you very much for your time and attention. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact me at emily.tarantini-1 at colorado dot edu or my advisor at jshannon at colorado dot edu. Participate in the Survey >>
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