Southwest Archaeology Today for Aug. 14, 2006

Archaeology Making the News – A Service of the Center for Desert Archaeology

– Washington Representative Seeks to Amend NAGPRA to Allow for the Study of Clovis & Pre-Clovis Era Remanins: A federal law governing protection of Native American graves would be amended to allow scientific study of ancient remains discovered on federal lands if the remains have not been tied to a current tribe, under a bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings.
http://tinyurl.com/nfrcm – The Oregonian

– Society for American Archaeology Launches Archaeology for the Public Webpage:
http://www.saa.org/public/home/home.html

– California Mission Records for 18th and 19th Century American Indians Released as a Database for Public Browsing: Reclaiming a neglected part of California’s past, historians have unveiled an immense data bank that for the first time chronicles the lives and deaths of more than 100,000 American Indians in the Spanish missions of the 18th and 19th centuries.
http://tinyurl.com/o6hnt – Contra Costa Times

– Book Review, Rock Art Along the Way: “It’s not a scientific explanation of rock art or its meaning,” says Farnsworth. “It’s designed for people, especially those with small children, who want to stop along their trip, enjoy rock art and make their own interpretations.” The book includes than 50 outdoor art galleries in Arizona, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Books/Content?oid=85059

– Travelogue, Acoma: The ancient pueblo of Acoma is well-nicknamed: Known as the Sky City, it commands the most exotic location of any inhabited place in the United States — the top of a 370-foot-high mesa in New Mexico, a natural citadel of golden rock, an island in the sky. It’s also amazingly well- disguised.
http://www.startribune.com/1513/story/607535.html

– Travelogue, Taos: Taos is rich in both their present and past. Some destinations live in their history, where Taos uses their history to move time forward, yet preserving the history that defines who they are. Visiting the Taos Pueblo is a step back into history and current home to the Taos-Tiwa Indians. One of the oldest continually inhabited communities in the United States, it is presently the permanent home to 25 families (60-80 people); approximately 3,000 tribal members live in the surrounding areas including the Pueblo. There are structures in the Pueblo dating back to 1818 including church remnants where women and children hid during the 1847 U.S. attack on New Mexico. In 1970 President Richard Nixon authorized the land to be returned back to the tribe.
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/08/13/018381.html

– Travelogue, Mesa Verde: Once upon centuries long past, the expansive mesas, meandering canyons and big sky of southwest Colorado held secrets unknown to modern man. Then in 1888, two ranchers looking for lost cattle discovered stone ruins now known as Cliff Palace. Worldwide interest followed, and America organized to protect the artifacts from theft and damage.
http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=13784

– Tour Opportunity: Old Pueblo Archaeology Center Fundraising Tour from Tucson – Southeast Utah Ruins, Rock Art, and Rivers. Wednesday, September 27 – Sunday, October 1, 2006. Visits to Monument Valley, Arches NP, Canyonlands and Natural Bridges NMs, San Juan River goosenecks, Mokee Dugway, Valley of the Gods, Newspaper Rock, Blanding and Moab museums, and Hubbell Trading Post. $695 per person ($670 for members). Call 520-798-1201, e-mail to info@oldpueblo.org, or see:
http://oldpueblo.wordpress.com