Dear Friends,
Archaeology Southwest (ASW) practices Preservation Archaeology, a holistic, collaborative, and conservation-based approach to exploring and protecting heritage places while honoring their diverse values. This mantra applies to and guides all of our research, preservation, outreach, and collaboration activities. It also applies to our physical home in downtown Tucson, at the historic Bates Mansion complex on the southwest corner of the intersection between Stone Avenue and Franklin Street. Although we work in the Bates Mansion, we also seek to preserve it in all its wonderful, historic complexity.
The Bates Mansion is difficult to describe. It is an eclectic mix of patios, courtyards, and one- and two-story buildings, one of which may date to the 1880s. It has a mix of levels with complicated stairways and a dumbwaiter (an elevator for goods, not people). It once contained indoor and outdoor swimming pools, one of which was on the second story! It is also well known for its Salvador Corona murals, some of which are deteriorating from water and salt damage. It has beautiful carpentry and wrought iron-work in many building components and appointments. The complex is currently named after the C.T.R. Bates family, which owned the complex for several decades in the mid-20th century. It is perhaps best known to Tucsonans as a past home of the Mountain Oyster Club, which moved to another location in January 2004.
The complete history of the Bates Mansion has yet to be written, but president emeritus Bill Doelle and vice-president of finance and operations Linda Pierce have done extensive research into the subject since Archaeology Southwest purchased and moved into the complex in 2010. Which brings me to the real point of this column—to honor Linda’s retirement after a 25-year-career with ASW.
Linda was one of the first employees Bill hired at ASW, and she has held many roles in the organization—development/philanthropy, operations, human resources, and outreach, among others. It is not an exaggeration to say that she has contributed substantially to every facet of this organization’s work, from survey and excavation in the San Pedro River Valley to the Archaeology Café lecture series and beyond. In “retirement,” Linda is going to work part-time in stage management at Tucson’s Invisible Theatre, and will not become a stranger to Archaeology Southwest, where she will continue to serve on a part-time and volunteer capacity.
On behalf of the current ASW staff, I simply say thank you, Linda, for all you’ve done! Archaeology Southwest simply would not be the same without your myriad contributions.
Until next week,
Steve Nash
President & CEO, Archaeology Southwest
Geoglyphs in Chile Destroyed
Every year, hundreds of racers from around the world gather in northern Chile with their all-terrain motorcycles, jeeps, quads and buggies. They race in circuits for hundreds of miles around the Atacama Desert, carving tire tracks into one of the driest places on Earth. What many of those racers potentially ignore is that the Atacama was once a canvas for ancient Indigenous peoples of South America. Starting 3,000 years ago, those Indigenous people carved vast figures of animals, humans and objects on the desert’s slopes. Known as geoglyphs, the specimens at Alto Barranco in the Tarapacá region stand out for their remarkable preservation. Humberto Basilio for the New York Times | Read more »
Be aware that images of the vandalism are disturbing. We’re particularly attuned to geoglyphs (ground figures) because of our long-term work in the Great Bend of the Gila.
Oct. 1 Archaeology Café 17th Season Opener: Celebrating the Song Dogs
The ever-informative and entertaining R. E. Burrillo will speak in person on domesticated dogs and their many roles across space and time in the Americas will present that most colorful and culturally ubiquitous of non-domesticated dogs: the wily coyote. R.E. will compare their history, biology, and cultural relevance with those of their domesticated cousin, followed by a brief overview of the rest of the series. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., where you’ll be greeted with charcuterie, libations, and great company—and well-behaved pups are welcome to come, too. Programs start at 6:00 p.m. Videos will be available on our YouTube channel a few days later. Directions to the Catalyst event space in the Tucson Mall at Oracle and Wetmore Rds. are available at the link. Archaeology Café (Archaeology Southwest) | Learn more »
Sept. 28 Is National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands, held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. Since 1994, NPLD has brought together hundreds of thousands of volunteers to help restore America’s public lands. These are the places Americans use for outdoor recreation, education, and other activities. Public lands include national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, forests, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and reservoirs, as well as state, county, and city parks that are managed by federal, state, and local governments. In 2023, the Bureau of Land Management hosted 124 events— more than any other federal agency! Approximately 7,438 volunteers came out from across the nation to lend a hand. These volunteers contributed nearly 81,572 hours of service worth over $2.6 million back to BLM-managed public lands. Bureau of Land Management | Learn more »
Join us for National Public Lands Day on September 28, 2024! Since 1994, this annual event on the fourth Saturday of September has been the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. Last year, over 130 national parks hosted events with 7,600 volunteers donating an impressive 41,500 hours of service. All national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone on September 28, 2024 in celebration of National Public Lands Day. National Park Service | Learn more »
Time-Sensitive (Pima County AZ): Note from the San Xavier Co-Op Farm
The time of year is here for community members near and far of the catholic faith to begin making their pilgrimages/walks in honor of St. Francis whose feast day is observed on October 4th. Please be aware of walkers in and around the San Xavier District [of the Tohono O’odham Nation] and by/through the Farm. We have assisted the district in cleaning up walkways for those traveling through on their way to San Xavier Mission. We’d like to remind our customers and visitors to be mindful of your speed and be on the lookout for people on foot. Thank you and we wish safe travels for all on their pilgrimage.
Protecting Ancestral Waters through Collaborative Stewardship
The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary along California’s Central Coast would be the first of its kind in the U.S. to be nominated by Native peoples. … According to Chumash generational knowledge, this coastal headland and its surrounding waters, located about 50 miles west of Santa Barbara, California, have been [inhabited] by Chumash peoples and their ancestors since time immemorial. A sacred place for the Chumash, Humqaq also provides important habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, and—if all goes according to plan—will soon be legally protected as part of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS). Elic Weitzel for SAPIENS | Read more »
Video: A History of Origins
With Jennifer Raff. Archaeogeneticist Raff gives is a behind-the-scenes look at the field and what it tells us about the peopling of the Americas. Archaeology with Flint Dibble | Watch now »
New Journal: Animal History
Animal History publishes cutting-edge historical research on the histories of animals and human-animal relationships, documenting the impacts animals have had on global histories, cultures, languages, technologies, and environments as well as the impacts that humans have had on animals and their pasts, cultures, and lives. The first four articles in the ASI-sponsored new journal, Animal History, have been published, and will be Open Access until the end of the year! University of California Press | Read now »
Position Announcement: Projects Manager (Tucson AZ)
Desert Archaeology, Inc. is seeking a solutions-oriented Projects Manager to assist with the management of projects and operations in our Tucson, Tempe (Phoenix area), and Prescott offices. The Projects Manager plans, organizes, and executes projects to ensure they meet schedule, budget, and quality performance benchmarks. They connect project plans with the collective efforts of the Desert Archaeology team, helping guide projects to their goals. Desert Archaeology, Inc. | Learn more »
September–October Live Lectures (Santa Fe NM)
Sept. 30, Iva Honyeestewa (Hopi Second Mesa), Hopi Second Mesa Weaving; Oct. 7, Mark Aldenderfer, Empires of Gold: Incas, Aztecs, and Tibetans; Oct. 14, Carolyn E. Boyd, White Shaman & Enduring Myths of the Archaic Period: Rock Imagery in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands; Oct. 21, Verma Nequatewa (Hotvela, Second Mesa Hopi) and Robert W. Rhodes, Two Views of Hopi; Oct. 28, Benjamin Bellorado, Sandal Imagery in the Chaco Road System & Greater Bears Ears. 6:00 p.m., Hotel Santa Fe. $20 at the door or $75 for the series of 4 lectures in October. Southwest Seminars | Learn more »
TODAY: Sept. 26 Online Event: Caretakers of the Land: A Story of Farming and Community in San Xavier
With Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan. Farming has always been the way of life for the Tohono O’odham community in San Xavier, located just south of Tucson. Their way of life depended on access to the land and to the water, namely the Santa Cruz River, which nourished agriculture in the area for generations. But a history of division sown through government land allotments and land development plans, coupled with the declining flow of the Santa Cruz, fractured community farming. How did the community come together to revitalize the land for future generations? What lessons can we learn from their story? Crow Canyon Archaeology Center | Learn more and register (free) »
Oct. 1 In-Person Event (Tucson AZ): Celebrating the Song Dogs
With R. E. Burrillo. This Archaeology Café season opener on domesticated dogs and their many roles across space and time in the Americas will present that most colorful and culturally ubiquitous of non-domesticated dogs: the wily coyote. R.E. will compare their history, biology, and cultural relevance with those of their domesticated cousin, followed by a brief overview of the rest of the series. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., where you’ll be greeted with charcuterie, libations, and great company—and well-behaved pups are welcome to come, too. Programs start at 6:00 p.m. Videos will be available on our YouTube channel a few days later. Archaeology Café (Archaeology Southwest) | Learn more »
Oct. 1 In-Person Event (Scottsdale AZ): Rock Imagery of the Southwest
With Aaron Wright. Wright will explore the fascinating world of petroglyphs and pictographs, which are integral to the cultural traditions of Indigenous communities worldwide, with a special focus on the Sonoran Desert. The talk will examine the diversity of rock imagery across the region, highlighting both common threads and unique regional qualities. Rather than simply asking what these images mean, Dr. Wright encourages attendees to consider what these images do. He will discuss how these ancient artworks, etched and painted on canyons and cliffs, continue to move us in remarkable ways, revealing their enduring significance. Desert Foothills Land Trust and the Holland Center | Learn more and register (free) »
Oct. 3 Online Event: Ink and Identity
With Andrew Gillreath-Brown. Gillreath-Brown discusses the history of tattooing in the U.S. Southwest and the 2,000-year-old tattoo tool from the Turkey Pen site (SE Utah). He examines how the tool was identified and what these findings can tell us about early Ancestral Pueblo life. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | Learn more and register (free) »
Oct. 7 In-Person Event (Taos NM): Transforming American Archaeology in 2024: Centering Indigenous-Native American Perspectives and Concerns
With Paul F. Reed. “American archaeology has been in the midst of a transition for many years. Long-suppressed and ignored viewpoints are finally seeing light and interpretations are broadening. In particular, archaeologists are working with Indigenous peoples with new and innovative approaches to understanding the past. As a result, archaeology is changing, although the pace of change can be described as slow. In this presentation, I offer an example from work that I’ve undertaken in New Mexico over the last 15 years. By working with different Indigenous groups, we have increased our understanding of ancestral land use and the great time-depth of connections to Chaco Canyon, Petroglyph National Monument, and other special places across the landscape. This work has also revealed the limitations of a Western-based, colonial approach to the past and illustrates the need for more comprehensive changes to our discipline.” Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Conference Room, 118 Cruz Alta Rd., 7:00 p.m. Taos Archaeological Society | Learn more »
Oct. 9 In-Person Event (Cave Creek AZ): Triangulating Piipaash History along the Lower Gila River
With Aaron Wright. Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, Maitland Hall 6502 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, Arizona. Talk begins at 7:30 p.m. Arizona Archaeological Society (Desert Foothills Chapter) | Learn more »
Oct.10–11 In Person Event (Tucson AZ): Used Book Sale & Benefit
AAHS will hold its annual fall Book Sale on Thursday afternoon, October 10 (1–4 p.m.), and Friday, October 11 (10–4 p.m.), in front of the Arizona State Museum Building. Proceeds from the sale support the Arizona State Museum Library. Come browse and buy anthropology, history, biography, and general non-fiction books. New inventory including many beautiful American Indian Art books. Books are priced from $2.00 to $20.00. Due to ongoing restoration work at the Arizona State Museum, this may be our last book sale for some time, so don’t miss it. Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society | Learn more »
Oct. 17 Online Event: New Archaeological Insights from Ancient DNA
With Jakob Sedig. Ancient DNA data from over 300 individuals are providing new insights on the peoples who lived in central, western, and northern Mexico hundreds and thousands of years ago. These data have shed light for answering long-standing questions about migration and interaction of different archaeological cultures in key eras of Mexico’s past. Third Thursday Food for Thought series (Old Pueblo Archaeology Center) | Learn more and register (free) »
Oct. 18 In-Person Event: Tucson Archaeology Happy Hour
Borderlands Brewing Co. patio, 119 E. Toole Ave., 5:00–7:00 p.m. You know who you are! Questions?
Oct. 19 In-Person Event (Dragoon AZ): Autumn Fest
Join Amerind at our Annual Autumn Fest as we celebrate the history, culture, and arts of the Apache Community. Rich in tradition, history, and culture, Apache teachers, artists, and singers will hold a day-long cultural celebration at the Amerind Museum in Dragoon, Arizona. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. $10 per vehicle. Amerind Museum | 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. Thanks!