Southwest Archaeology Today for Nov. 3, 2006

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

– Excavations Set to Begin on Tucson Cemetery: Crews working on the 4.1 acre parcel along Stone Avenue, between Alameda and Toole, are likely to find foundations of homes from the early 1900s. They may also find Hohokam artifacts dating back 2,000 years. And they will find bones.
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=5627483&nav=14RT

– Old Pueblo Archaeology Begins Excavations on the “CNN Camp Bell” Site: Old Pueblo Archaeology Center has begun archaeological excavations at Tucson’s “CNN Camp Bell” archaeological site, a prehistoric Hohokam Indian ruin at 3883 N. Campbell Avenue, in cooperation with CNN Realty Services. Free guided tours, as well as opportunities for volunteers who are members of Old Pueblo to participate in the excavations, are offered on November 3-5 and November 9-12, 2006, and February 23-25 and March 2-4, 2007. The tours are offered on the hour starting at 9 a.m. on each date with the last tour of the day starting at 1 p.m. According to Dr. Courtney Rose, archaeologist in charge of Old Pueblo’s study, the CNN Camp Bell ruin is part of an ancient village that was inhabited between A.D. 950 and 1450 by Hohokam Indians, ancient desert farmers of south-central Arizona known for their distinctive pottery, “pithouse” architecture, irrigation systems, and shell jewelry-making. So far Old Pueblo’s studies at the site have identified several Hohokam pithouses, an unusual slab-lined pit, other outdoor pits, and several hundred artifacts.
http://www.oldpueblo.org/public.html

– Students from USC and U of Illinois Working on Unique Archaeological Study: Six students at the University of Illinois are wearing white gloves in class this semester. They’re learning to handle issues of age and fragility with aplomb and to make excellent first impressions. No, this isn’t a course in business etiquette, but rather, archaeology – and it’s a first. The undergraduates are doing original research on a U. of I. collection of small signature stones that artisan scribes crafted up to 5,000 years ago. The research involves, among other things, examining, analyzing and documenting each item in minute detail, X-raying them, and rolling them out on soft clay, just as the original owners did when they needed to seal a deal, endorse and verify transactions.
http://www.news.uiuc.edu/news/06/1101stoneseals.html

– Old Pueblo Archaeology Center Fundraising Tour from Tucson: Fort Bowie and The Rex Allen Museum/ Cowboy Hall of Fame. Saturday, January 13, 2007. Special guided walking tour by Ranger Jeff at Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Return trip dinner stop in Willcox at the very good Desert Rose Cafe (not included in tour fee). Tour fee includes a donation to Old Pueblo Archaeology, transportation by van, and all entrance fees. $89 per person for non-members, $71.20 for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center members and Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary members. Call 520-798-1201, e-mail to info@oldpueblo.org, or see:
http://www.oldpueblo.org