“Save America’s Treasures” Program to Close at the End of This Month

“Save America’s Treasures” to Close at the End of This Month
For the past twelve years, Save America’s Treasures has been one of the country’s most important and effective historic preservation efforts, bringing hundreds of millions of dollars for restoration to nationally significant historic sites and special collections in all parts of the U.S. In the current difficult fiscal environment we face as a country, the federal SAT program was not included in the Administration’s FY11 budget request.  Despite strong and consistent support from preservationists, local government officials, historic site administrators, and many others, Congress is not reinstating any programs that the Administration did not include in its 2011 budget. http://www.utahheritagefoundation.com/news/uhf-blog/announcement-regarding-save-americas-treasures.html

Casa Grande to Celebrate 119 Years of Federal Protection
On June 22, the local landmark will celebrate 119 years as nationally protected grounds. In fact, Casa Grande Ruins was the first prehistoric and cultural site to be established by the United States government. The ruins represented the centerpiece of the Hohokam irrigation farming culture, which flourished in the Gila River Valley sometime between 300 B.C. and 300 A.D. By the time of its “Classical Period” (approximately 1100-1450 A.D.), experts believe 5,000 to 10,000 Hohokam inhabited the area, living along 300 miles of canals dug from the Gila River.  http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2011/06/05/arizona_city_independent/news/doc4de54e4c67b95954985932.txt

Consortium of Southwestern Research Centers Announces New Competition in Archaeological Interpretation
The Center for Desert Archaeology has joined in a Consortium of Southwest Research Centers (CSRC) to offer an annual prize for an outstanding public education or outreach program that brings archaeological knowledge about the past to inform issues and problems of the present. The award seeks to stimulate innovative archaeological and historical scholarship that is relevant to issues of contemporary concern, such as sustainability, immigration, human responses to climate change, ethnic relations, war and peace, technological change, and other issues facing contemporary societies. The prize carries a cash award of $5,000 and will be announced each year at the annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/sat/csrc_prize-2011.pdf

New Mine Near Tucson Could Erase a Number of Historic and Ancient  Sites
At least 87 historic properties and other archaeological sites eligible for the National Register of Historic Places could be destroyed or seriously damaged by the proposed Rosemont Mine, a federal draft environmental-impact statement says. http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/article_b241c906-1d01-5682-a21d-b96347c9c470.html

Remote Sensing at Crow Canyon
On May 11, Crow Canyon staff and 12 students from Steamboat Springs Middle School joined forces to “break ground” at the Dillard site, the centerpiece of the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center’s new Basketmaker Communities Project. Before students took trowels to the ground, however, Crow Canyon archaeologists had already made significant discoveries without even disturbing the soil—using remote-sensing technology.  http://www.imakenews.com/crowcanyon1/e_article002116753.cfm?x=bjvG6MS,bfFyKHL8

Reminder – Registration Deadline for the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference Fast Approaching
Registration at the regular rate is available until June 10th.   After this date, late registration fees will apply.  http://www.azpreservation.com/regstart.aspx

Navajo Rug Auction to Benefit the Museum of Northern Arizona
Flagstaff Cultural Partners (FCP) and the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) will host two Navajo Rug Auctions this year: Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Museum of Northern Arizona and Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the Coconino Center for the Arts. Each auction will feature over 200 vintage and contemporary Navajo weavings from artists, consigners, and the R. B. Burnham & Co. Trading Post. http://musnaz.org/events/navrug2011.shtml

Agricultural Tours Highlight the Hopi Way of Life
The small plots below the curve of a steep gravel road seem an unlikely place to grow crops, as does the sandy slope near a busy freeway and the cliff side of a tribal village. Hopis know that these places aren’t the most accessible, but it’s here where the staples of traditional food — corn, squash and beans — flourish with what little water reaches the usually dry land. It’s a farming technique that has been practiced for centuries as part of a belief that a prosperous life comes through hard work. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/01/travel/main20067889.shtml

Follow Our Research Blog from the Center for Desert Archaeology and University of Arizona Field School in Preservation Archaeology
https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/what-we-do/investigations/mule-creek/mule-creek-underground/

Thanks to Gerald Kelso for contributions to this week’s issue of Southwestern Archaeology Today.