Dear Friends,
The introduction of the Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act (H.R. 8719) by Congressman Grijalva on August 16 feels super-momentous to the Tribes and the many advocates who have supported protection of this important cultural landscape since 2010.
But bill introduction is just a milestone. A moment that needed to be reached.
There is a long, long road ahead.
More people need to know about this opportunity for better and more permanent protections for this enduring, yet surprisingly sensitive landscape.
And then their voices need to be heard.
You, our loyal Preservation Archaeology Today friends, can help by taking a few minutes to visit respectgreatbend.org. The Take Action button is very, very easy to click, and you can become an engaged supporter of the Great Bend protection effort. And to be clear—we are reaching out for your voice in support, not your dollars.
Let’s stick together for the long haul.
Our staff and our colleagues are there for the day-by-day tasks. But, and as with many opportunities we’ve brought to you here over the years, there will be times when your voices will be critical. And together, our voices will be amplified—the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.
My personal thanks for all you have already done and for all we will accomplish together,
President & CEO, Archaeology Southwest
Thanks to Glenna Dean for sharing Regge Wiseman’s obituary.
Banner image: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, R.E. Burrillo
Participate in the Grand Staircase Planning Process
As a reminder, we are in the Public Scoping period of the planning process for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). This scoping period is a call to action for all of us to provide input into the development of the draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Monument. We encourage you to attend the scoping meetings to understand the process, ask questions, learn from others attending the meetings, and develop a sense of how the agency intends to manage the “objects and values” identified in the Monument Proclamations. Our organization will post comments for your consideration on our website by September 10, 2022. Prior to releasing these comments, we will review the Analysis of the Management Situation (AMS) scheduled to be published by August 24, as well as attend scoping meetings in August and September. Please direct questions related to our RMP comments to comments@gsenm.org. The comment period will be open until September 27. Grand Staircase Escalante Partners | Learn More >>
Road to Chaco Inundated
Chaco Culture National Historical Park reopened on the morning of Aug. 19 after being closed a day earlier because of flooding and deteriorating conditions on the road leading into the park. Nathan Hatfield, the chief of interpretation at Chaco and at Aztec Ruins National Monument, said National Park Service staff was able to make it into the park early on Aug. 19 and reopen it after it had been shuttered a day earlier. But Hatfield said conditions on the 21-mile road leading into the park—12 miles of which are unpaved—were not good. “The roads are still in pretty bad shape,” he said. “We recommend, unless you have four-wheel drive and high clearance, that you do not attempt to come in.” Mike Easterling for Farmington Daily Times | Read More >>
Editors’ note: Archaeology Southwest’s own Paul Reed and colleagues were stuck at the park! They shared pictures much like the ones in this article. Here’s an update from the Chaco Culture National Historical Park’s Facebook page: As of Monday afternoon, 8/22: While the North road is passable for the courageous visitor, it is not advised. There is a high probability of vehicular hazards. There are two main areas of concern: One is a large road cut, less than 1/2 mile from the park entrance. It is about 8–12 inches deep and there is one lane towards the east where traffic can drive. The second area is a hole with mud on one side and a rutted road on the other. The clearer side is also on the east side of the road. This hazard is within a mile of the park entrance. Highway 57 entering Chaco from the South is still very muddy in certain areas. We recommend that only four-wheel drive vehicles attempt to enter the park from this direction.
Tennessee Museum Debuts Reimagined and Collaborative Exhibition
The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is reimagining a 22-year-old exhibit to explain the repatriation, or return, of Native American Ancestral Remains and cultural items back to their proper cultural communities. The exhibition, which opens on August 23, was created through a collaboration with Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, and the University of Tennessee Office of Repatriation. In the exhibition, the museum examines the legal and ethical principles of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Hannah Moore for WATE News (ABC affiliate) | Read More >>
Position Announcement: NAGPRA Inventory Specialist, Tempe AZ
The School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University (ASU) seeks to hire a qualified NAGPRA Inventory Specialist to be responsible for overseeing the inventory of archaeological collections for meeting compliance obligations specified by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The NAGPRA Inventory Specialist position is a vital component in the effective management of Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) compliance. The Center for Archaeology and Society Repository houses over 350,000 catalog entries, plus an unknown number of objects to be inventoried, hindering effective NAGPRA compliance efforts. The NAGPRA Inventory Specialist will therefore play a crucial role in documenting and caring for both cataloged and uncatalogued objects potentially related to NAGPRA, as specified by federal regulations and industry best practices. Arizona State University | Learn More >>
Audio: Hopi Yellow-ware
In the summer of 1963, a cache of five intact pottery jars and bowls was discovered in what is now Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The discovery is unique because the pottery consists entirely of a type known as Hopi Yellow-wares, which is only made on the Hopi Mesas in northeastern Arizona, 200 miles away. This style was developed in the 13th century. The pots are fired with coal dug from local deposits. This results in hotter firing temperatures, creating vibrant yellow, orange, and red hues in the finished clay. Lyle Balenquah for Earth Notes (KNAU/NPR) | Listen or Read Now >>
Blog: New Insights on the Tucson Presidio from the Historic Pima County Courthouse
Pima County has recently completed the renovation of the 1929 Pima County Courthouse, now the home of the Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center and the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum. In addition, the January 8th Memorial has been completed on the west side of the Courthouse. Desert Archaeology conducted excavations at the courthouse prior to these renovations and monitored the construction work, documenting the variety of cultural resources we encountered along the way. Homer Thiel at Field Journal (Desert Archaeology, Inc.) | Read More >>
Blog: Don’t Worry, She’ll Hold Together
“You hear me, baby? Hold together.” Han Solo may have been talking about the Millennium Falcon, but I recently found myself thinking that during work at 700-year-old cliff dwellings. Andrew Van Cleve at the Preservation Archaeology blog (Archaeology Southwest) | Read More >>
Blog: Teaching Data Reuse
In a recent article in Advances in Archaeological Practice that discussed this course, Teaching for Data Reuse and Working Toward Digital Literacy in Archaeology, I outlined a few themes that I believe need additional follow up: 1) Instructors should lean into visual and narrative ways for presenting data as a teaching focus, 2) messy data are good to use for teaching, 3) instructors must gauge students’ previous knowledge of digital tools and archaeological background and adjust the course accordingly, and 4) a larger infrastructure must be in place to support instructor data/digital literacy. Kevin Gartski at Cambridge Core blog | Read More >>
Publication Announcement: Laterality and Directionality in Pottery Painting and Coiling
MacFarland, Kathryn. Laterality and Directionality in Pottery Painting and Coiling, pp. 130–146 in Searching for Structure in Pottery Analysis—Applying Multiple Scales and Instruments to Production, Alan F. Greene and Charles W. Hartley, eds. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. Jul 2022. >>
TONIGHT, 6:00 PM MDT, Aug. 25 Webinar: The Cedar Mesa Perishables Project: A Model for Collaboration
With Louie Garcia, Erin Gearty, Chuck LaRue. Christopher Lewis, Mary Weahkee, and Laurie Webster. Since 2016, the Cedar Mesa Perishables Project has engaged Pueblo fiber artists in its documentation of archaeological textiles, baskets, wooden implements, and other perishable cultural items recovered from alcoves in southeastern Utah during the 1890s. Now comprising half of the research team, these Pueblo scholars have contributed their expertise and cultural knowledge to the project’s public programs, a documentary, and collections research. In June 2022, the team undertook a 10-day research trip to study collections at the Field Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and Penn Museum. In this presentation, we will discuss the project’s collaborative journey and how this approach has enriched our understanding of ancestral Pueblo lifeways, perishable technologies, cultural continuity, and fiber arts. Friends of Cedar Mesa, Bears Ears Education Center, and Four Corners Lecture Series | More Information and Zoom Registration >>
REMINDER: Aug. 25 Webinar: Past Meets Present: A Conversation between Two Mesa Verde Superintendents
With Kayci Cook-Collins and Joe Sindelar. What if Jesse Nusbaum, one of Mesa Verde’s early superintendents could see the park today? Nusbaum served as superintendent several times in the early years of the park. He planned and supervised the development of the Chapin Mesa Historic District, including the Headquarters Building, Chief Rangers Office, and Chapin Mesa Museum. He also worked to enforce and to educate the public about the 1906 Antiquities Act, which created federal protection for archaeological resources such as those in Mesa Verde. What if Jesse and Kayci, the current superintendent) could have a chat? Join “Jesse” (character played by Joe Sindelar) and Kayci as they ponder the challenges and rewards of managing a world-class archaeological park. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | More Information and Zoom Registration >>
REMINDER: Aug. 25 In-Person Event (Oro Valley AZ): Book Launch Celebration for Michael Chiago
Western National Parks Association and the University of Arizona Press invite you to a special book launch celebration for Michael Chiago: O’odham Lifeways Through Art. This book offers an artistic depiction of O’odham lifeways through the paintings of internationally acclaimed artist Michael Chiago Sr. Ethnobiologist Amadeo M. Rea collaborated with the O’odham artist to describe the paintings in accompanying text, making this unique book a vital resource for cultural understanding and preservation. Western National Parks Association and the University of Arizona | Learn More >>
RESCHEDULED to Aug. 27 In-Person Event (Tucson AZ): Celebrate All Things S-Cuk Sọn
Gates open at 6:00 p.m., program starts at 6:30 p.m. Presented by the Tucson–Pima County Historical Commission and the Presidio Museum, this event is an annual tradition (usually) held on the day that is the official founding of modern-day Tucson, 247 years ago. (We had to cancel last weekend because of the monsoon rains and muddy conditions at the Presidio Museum.) This FREE fiesta is held at the Presidio Museum, 196 N. Court Avenue. Tucson–Pima County Historical Commission and Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum | Learn More >>
Aug. 27–28 In-Person Event (Flagstaff AZ): Hopi Arts & Cultural Festival
The 11th Annual Hopi Arts & Cultural Festival returns August 27 through 28 at the Continental Country Club Driving Range. The festival aims to help introduce artisans’ artistic talent and view of Hopi culture to the public. Hopi Arts and Education Association (HAEA)’s mission is to bring an educational experience, and an insight into the Hopi culture, by way of art, traditional social dances, and one on one interaction with the Hopi artists. Margarita Cruz in the Arizona Daily Sun | Learn More >>
Sept. 1 Webinar: Contexts and Resiliency: Native American Horse Relations
With Dr. Kelsey Dayle John. This presentation explores the social and historical context of horse narratives as they relate to American Indian Studies and settler colonial studies. Dr. Kelsey Dayle John will discuss the importance of Indigenous worldviews and colonial contexts for horse/human relationships in tribal communities. Drawing on her research for a current book project, she will focus on horse imagery and resiliency through Indian boarding schools. Please note that this webinar will only be available during the live presentation. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | More Information and Zoom Registration >>
Sept. 8 In-Person Event (Saddlebrooke AZ) Paper Sons: Tales of Chain Migration in Tucson
With Li Yang. A “paper son” is a term used for young Chinese immigrants coming to the United States prior to 1943 who claimed to be a son of a citizen but were, in fact, sons on paper only. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to curb Chinese immigration to the U.S. The passage of this federal law and many other legislations subsequently ushered in a long period in the U.S. history when the Chinese were systematically and severely restricted from entering the country and excluded from becoming naturalized citizens. To counter these unjust, discriminatory legislations, the Chinese created ingenious ways of bringing in their close kin, clan relatives or even fellow villagers. Using false identities and claiming to be sons of American citizens of Chinese ancestry was one of the most widely adopted immigration strategies. But such processes were long, complex, and painful and had enduring negative effects on the lives and psyches of the immigrants involved, as revealed by the stories of the paper sons among the Gin clan in Tucson’s Chinese community. Friends of the SaddleBrooke Libraries and Arizona Humanities | More Information >>
REMINDER: Sept. 10–11 Tour: Homol’ovi and Rock Art Ranch Pueblos and Petroglyphs
With Rich Lange. The tour visits post-1200 ancestral Hopi pueblos where Chuck Adams and Lange directed the Arizona State Museum’s 1983–2016 Homol’ovi Research Program, a Basketmaker II (500–850 CE) to Pueblo II/III (1150–1225) village site, and the Rock Art Ranch petroglyphs in Chevelon Canyon. Reservations and $99 donation prepayment due by 5:00 p.m. Sept. 2. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center | Learn More >>
Remember to send us notice of upcoming webinars and Zoom lectures, tours and workshops, and anything else you’d like to share with the Friends.