Southwest Archaeology Today for Aug. 16, 2006

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

– Flooding at Hopi: Keams Canyon, Ariz. If the Hopi Reservation continues to get soaked with heavy rain, tribal authorities say they may have to go door-to-door and tell residents to evacuate. The Hopi Tribe already has declared a state of emergency after some dams overflowed.
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5285897&nav=menu216_2

– Long-Term Water Use Forecasts for Northern Arizona Point to Depletion: By 2050, communities throughout Northern Arizona will use more water than they can sustainably draw from the ground, according to a study by the Bureau of Reclamation. The study found that wells tapping the Navajo Aquifer around Dilkon at Lower Greasewood could go dry as soon as 2010, and that other water sources will follow in the next two decades.
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5277454

– Archaeologist Examines Social Complexity in Early Plains Tribes: A University of Calgary archaeologist has proposed a controversial theory suggesting the First Nations of the Canadian Plains developed complex tribal social structures some 1,700 years earlier than many researchers believe. Until now, a commonly held view outside the Canadian Plains has been that the arrival in the 1600s of Europeans and the domesticated horse were the main catalysts that caused Plains Aboriginal people to abandon small bands in favour of large tribes. But Dr. Dale Walde, writing in the most recent edition of the prestigious journal World Archaeology, says the archaeolgical record from bison kill and camp sites, together with evidence from ceramics found in Alberta and Saskatchewan, tell a different story.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-08/uoc-bhm081406.php

– Economic Impact of National Parks: National parks are moneymakers for local communities, according to a study by the National Park Service. The study, released Monday by a government watchdog group and confirmed by the park service, found the parks generate about $5 for every tax dollar spent on them. In 2005, there were 272 million visits to the nation’s 390 park areas that generated $10.3 billion for local economies and supported about 236,000 jobs, according to the study.
http://tinyurl.com/mftyw – the Coloradoan

– The History Channel’s “Save Our History” Historic Preservation Awards: Building on two successful years of nationwide efforts to help communities preserve their local history, The History Channel today announced that 27 organizations across the country will receive Save Our History preservation grants. With the support of national sponsors Lowe’s and American Express, as well as cable affiliates in each community, the grants will fund innovative, educational projects designed to bring communities together, actively engage children in the preservation of their local history and communicate the importance of saving local history for future generations.
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=57568
http://www.saveourhistory.com

– Progress on Scottsdale Historic Neighborhood Designation: Scottsdale has taken another step to freeze a moment in the city’s history. As part of its goal to preserve post-World War II neighborhoods, the Scottsdale Historic Preservation Commission has started a process to designate what would be the city’s third historic neighborhood.
http://tinyurl.com/m6a3q – East Valley Tribune

– Lecture on Ancient Shell Use (Tucson): Thursday, August 17, 2006, “Southwestern Archaeological Shell Use in Time and Space” by archaeologist Arthur W. Vokes of Tucson. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s monthly “Third Thursdays” lecture programs are held on the third Thursday of each month starting at 7:30 p.m in the Old Pueblo auditorium, 5100 W. Ina Road Bldg. 8, in the Marana Town Limits, Arizona. Each program is free with no advance reservations required. Contact Old Pueblo at 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org for more information.