Southwest Archaeology Today for June 22, 2010

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

Join the Center for Desert Archaeology on July 8th for a Special Presentation with an International Perspective on Heritage Preservation
The Center for Desert Archaeology and the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation invite you to a special evening with Center member and distinguished guest Ian George, who will share an overview of England’s Inherited Landscape. Mr. George serves as Inspector of Ancient Monuments for English Heritage in the West Midlands. His presentation will take us on a journey through time to some of the most treasured features of England’s historic landscape. English Heritage is a national organization whose purpose resonates with that of the Center – championing special places, advising the government, sharing heritage widely now, and protecting it for the future. The program will be held in the Copper Hall of Tucson’s own landmark, the historic Hotel Congress. Admission is free. Guests are welcome to mingle and enjoy a no-host bar before and after the presentation, which will begin at 6:00 p.m.
http://www.cdarc.org/2010/06/18/special-evening-englands-inherited-landscape-2/

Despite Public Objections, Santa Fe Indian School is Proceeding with Plans to Demolish Historic Paolo Soleri Amphitheater
A memorial to be held Sunday for former U.S. Interior Secretary Stewart Udall will be one of the last gatherings at the Paolo Soleri amphitheater in Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Indian School, will destroy the famous, half-century old amphitheater named for its designer, architect Paolo Soleri. The City of Santa Fe and the state Cultural Properties Review Committee asked the school to reverse its decision last week.
http://tinyurl.com/2vu87zk – New Mexico Independent

Excavations Continue on the Harris Site
For the fourth summer in a row, archeology students from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix have come to the Mimbres Valley to do field work and study the ancient culture of the Mimbres people. Barbara Roth of UNLV has been studying the Mimbres culture since 1992 and for the past four years has brought her students to excavate at the Harris Site, on the Stewart Ranch, recognized by archaeologists as the largest known pithouse village in the Mimbres area.
http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_15340889?source=most_emailed

Students from the University of Texas at San Antonio Excavate Spanish Colonial Ranch
To the untrained eye, the grass-covered mounds at the end of County Road 144 could be mistaken for nothing more than a local dumping site or someone’s abandoned, overgrown property. But these are actually the remains of the 18th century ranching outpost for San Antonio’s Mission Espada. It was called Rancho de las Cabras, a settlement that once covered 1,000 acres of what was then the rugged terrain of northern New Spain.
http://tinyurl.com/237zqvt – My San Antonio.com

Efforts Continue to Nominate Route 66 to National Register of Historic Places
The California Preservation Foundation, the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, and consultant Mead & Hunt is to hold informational presentations June 14-17, along Route 66. The group is to visit Needles on June 17, with a meeting beginning at 6 p.m. in the Wagon Wheel restaurant, 2420 Needles Hwy. This will be the first visit by the project team to the route during a year-long process to complete a National Register Multiple Property Documentation Form.
http://www.thedesertstar.com/articles/2010/06/16/news/local/news889.txt

Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission Helps to Renovate Historic Adobe Home
Last year, Black took her retirement nest egg and purchased almost 10 acres of south Phoenix farmland, vacant except for an old, neglected adobe Spanish colonial revival. With the help of her general contractor, Mike Schrader, they’re removing and repairing years of water and fire damage and detrimental “improvements” by previous owners.”I just feel it is what I was supposed to do,” Black said. “I think it’s going to be a beautiful new historic home for the city. I want it to be my retirement home.”
http://tinyurl.com/2553tkk – Arizona Republic

Friends of Cedar Mesa Launch New Website
Celebrate Cedar Mesa” took place last Saturday in Bluff, Utah, organized by Friends of Cedar Mesa, Mark Meloy, and Bluff-area folks. It was good to see so many of you there. Now that Mark is off on his summer pro-fun circuit, I’d like to introduce you to the new Friends of Cedar Mesa website, http://cedarmesafriends.org. The group exists to promote stewardship of Cedar Mesa’s natural and cultural resources. We’ve posted some information and photos from the event, including some great links to archaeological research courtesy of Bill Lipe. Please bookmark the website – there’s much more information on the way.
http://cedarmesafriends.org