Dear Friends,
A hike in my go-to place just north of Tucson—Catalina State Park—is always restorative. Last Saturday was no exception.
I chose an area away from major trails. Usually, I hike fast and hard. But on Saturday I wandered slowly. I crossed an archaeological site I know well. It was blanketed by more vegetation than I’ve ever seen, due to last summer’s heavy rains. Even the few frosts of “winter” here had only laid plants that were once upright on their sides.
My slow stroll allowed me to spot many birds—at distances that made me regret not bringing my binoculars.
Continuing on, I was surprised by a rare but recognizable sound, distant and down off the ridge I was on.
Water was trickling over the rocks of a normally dry wash.
This was a tributary wash to the main, very dry wash I had crossed earlier. I scanned the landscape and realized I was seeing snowmelt from the white-topped mountains. When I reached the flowing water, it was crystal clear.
As I walked downstream, the flow ceased, disappearing into the sands.
The simple joy of seeing the effects of water on the land—and seeing actual water—did its restorative work. I felt renewed.
I hope you have restorative paths where you are finding renewal.
Sincerely,
President & CEO, Archaeology Southwest
Cynthia Chavez Lamar to Direct NMAI
Cynthia Chavez Lamar has been named director of the National Museum of the American Indian, becoming the first Native woman to helm a museum under the aegis of the Smithsonian Institution in the 175 years since that organization’s founding. Chavez Lamar, who is of Hopi, Navajo, and Tewa descent and a member of the San Felipe Pueblo in central New Mexico, had since last year served as acting associate director for collections and operations for the museum, which has outposts in New York; Washington, DC; and Suitland, Maryland. She will assume her new role on Valentine’s Day. Artforum | Read More >>
Commentary: New Mexico Should Help Protect Laguna Pueblo Heritage Place
We often envision expansive vistas, wild and untouched landscapes, and rich biological diversity when we think of our public lands. But far too often, we forget about the people who cared for and protected the land through the centuries. … The state of New Mexico has the opportunity to protect one such landscape in this year’s legislative session, the L Bar property. Our people, the people of Kawaik’a or Laguna Pueblo, have lived in this place since time immemorial. It was here that our ancestors built communities, raised children and created a culture that has endured to this day. Martin Kowemy Jr. in the Santa Fe New Mexican | Read More >>
Remembering Art Jelinek
Editors’ Note: Our dear and esteemed friend and colleague Art Jelinek passed earlier this month. To learn more about Dr. Jelinek’s life and scholarship (and his longstanding Tucson connections!) in his own words, please watch this oral history video produced by AAHS (part 2 is accessible after this part 1). We miss him. Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society | Watch Now >>
Mammoth Refugia?
When paired with other records, our genetic reconstructions suggest that the transition out of the last glacial period may have been more drawn out than dated bones alone would suggest. Mammoths, for example, may have declined in local population abundance thousands of years earlier than other megafauna, which is potentially correlated with the first controversial evidence of humans in the area. Further, grassland grazing animals may have persisted for thousands of years in refugia (habitats that support the existence of an isolated population), despite the environmental shift. Tyler J. Murchie in the Conversation | Read More >>
Podcast: Guided by the Past
In this first episode of a special season of the SAPIENS podcast, new hosts Dr. Ora Marek-Martinez and Yoli Ngandali tell their stories about how they found archaeology, their struggles and successes in the field, and what it means to be Indigenous and Black archaeologists today. This episode lays the foundation for the season, as Ora and Yoli welcome listeners into their world and explore the foundational concepts and principles of an exciting new form of archaeology that includes a diverse range of knowledges, values, and experiences. SAPIENS | Listen Now >>
Podcast: Identity and Repatriation
Host Jessica Yaquinto interviews Dr. Joe Stahlman (Tuscarora descent), Director of Seneca Nation’s Seneca-Iroquois National Museum-Onöhsagwë:de’ Culture Center and Seneca Nation’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Joe takes us through his career journey, including what it’s like to direct both a museum and a THPO office. Along the way, we discuss race and identity in the field of Anthropology, in Indigenous communities, and in society at large. Heritage Voices | Listen Now >>
Publication Announcement: Fresh Banana Leaves
Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science, by Jessica Hernandez, PhD. Penguin Random House, 2022. Learn More >>
Jan. 27 Webinar: Indigenous Food Systems
Lyla June (Diné/Tsétsêhéstâhese) will discuss native food systems in pre-Columbian times. Through her doctoral work she has seen that a common denominator in these systems is the strategy of habitat expansion. Whether it’s burning grasslands to maintain habitat for deer, buffalo, antelope, etc., or building intertidal rock walls to catch sediment for clam habitat, Native people have a knack for building a home for their food in reciprocal relationships. Through this maintenance of the home of edible plants and animals, whom they see as relatives, food can come through consensual and respectful relationships. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | More Information and Zoom Registration >>
REMINDER: Feb. 1 Webinar: The Importance of Birds in Chaco Canyon
Katelyn Bishop (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) will discuss “The Importance of Birds in Chaco Canyon.” Dr. Bishop will share some of the findings and insights from an analysis of avifaunal remains from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Analysis reveals how birds were involved in people’s lives in Chaco Canyon and the many types of birds these people valued. Archaeology Café (Archaeology Southwest) | More Information and Zoom Registration >>
Feb. 3 Webinar: Claws of the Jaguar
With Jonathan Dubois. The Formative Era (~2500 BCE–250 CE) in the Americas was a time that featured widespread establishment of agriculture and large regional ceremonial centers accompanied by artistic styles used to present the most potent symbols of the diverse societies who built them. One of the central themes that adorn ceramics is representations of plants, especially plants that were considered to have medicinal properties. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | More Information and Zoom Registration >>
Feb. 17 Webinar: How to Build a Career and a Life in Archaeology
“How to Build a Career and a Life in Archaeology: Tips from the Hired and Hirers for BIPOC Archaeologists.” A panel of three persons who hire and three persons who were recently hired discuss their experiences and offer advice in break-out rooms. Archaeological Centers Coalition | More Information and Zoom Registration >>
Internship Opportunity: Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos NM
American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) is seeking a Cultural Resources Member interested in dedicating 11 weeks to support Bandelier National Monument with archeological site documentation, preservation treatments, museum management, and interpretation and educational programming. The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program (CRDIP) is a professional development internship that introduces students, from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks, to career opportunities within Cultural Resource Management in the NPS. American Conservation Experience | Learn More >>
Position Announcement: Permanent GS-0193-7/9 Archaeologists, Manti-La Sal National Forest, UT
The Manti-La Sal National Forest is hiring two GS-7 Archaeologists with promotion potential to GS-9. One position will have a duty station in Monticello, Utah, and the other will have a duty station in Ferron, Utah. We’ll be hiring through a national hiring event that is being held in conjunction with the 2022 Society for Range Management (SRM) Conference. This event will recruit and hire students and graduates in range management, soil science, watershed hydrology, geology, recreation, and archeology. Participation is both virtual (online) and in-person from February 6–10, 2022. You don’t have to attend the event to apply for the positions. The group announcements for these positions will be open on USAJOBS from February 8–28, 2022. Both positions will be described as a “Recent Graduates/Merit GS-07 with Planned Conversion to GS-0193-09 Archeologist (Position Description # FS3260)” in the group announcement.
Position Announcement: Development Director, Bluff UT
Friends of Cedar Mesa is hiring a Development Director who will have the overall responsibilities of leading our fundraising programs and reports directly to our Executive Director. Responsibilities include grant writing, soliciting major gifts, management of our general donor program and fee for service efforts. This is a full-time, exempt position requiring exceptional commitment to FCM’s mission. The position will involve frequent regional and sometimes national travel, as well as occasional work on weekends and weeknights. Friends of Cedar Mesa | Learn More >>
REPOST: Position Announcement: Director of Outreach, Tucson AZ
The Director of Outreach is responsible for developing and implementing educational programs and volunteer opportunities for Archaeology Southwest. Other key duties include maintaining the organization’s social media presence, marketing Archaeology Southwest programs, and assisting in maintaining the organization’s websites. Archaeology Southwest | Learn More >>
See you next week! Please do send us notice of upcoming webinars and Zoom lectures, tours and workshops, and anything else you’d like to share with the friends. Thanks!