Coalition Sues to Stop Fracking in the San Juan Basin

Coalition Sues to Stop Fracking in the San Juan Basin
A coalition of environmental groups filed suit in federal court on Wednesday to push back against Bureau of Land Management’s permitting of hydraulic fracturing wells near Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The suit, which names the BLM and the U.S. Interior Department as defendants, argues that the federal government is putting the environment, public health and the region’s cultural resources at sites like Chaco Culture at risk by allowing oil and gas development in the lower San Juan Basin, primarily the Lybrook area. http://bit.ly/1GajW6E – Farmington Daily Times

Utah Legislature Wishes to Declare Fracking and Grazing the “Best Use” for Cedar Mesa
State lawmakers are declaring grazing and mineral extraction the “highest and best use” for Cedar Mesa and the San Rafael Swell. A resolution sailing through the Legislature, SCR4, is aimed at curbing what lawmakers say are abuses of the Antiquities Act by Democratic presidents — a sort of warning shot meant to discourage President Barack Obama from designating another monument in the state. http://bit.ly/18PXp3U – Salt Lake Tribune

New Issue of Pottery Southwest Available Online
Vol. 31, No. 1 (Spring/Summer 2015, Part I) of Pottery Southwest is now available online at http://www.unm.edu/~psw/PDFs/PSW-31-1.pdf. The issue features Linda Honeycutt’s Motifs 1-7 Overview; see the entire collection at www.basketmakeriiimotifs.org. Owen Severance’s paper Southeastern Utah – It’s Not Southwestern Colorado proposes that the ceramic sequence for southeastern Utah differs from the one in southwestern Colorado, and Dave Snow’s review of Since Mera provides an in-depth look at that volume (http://newmexico-archaeology.org/books/). Pottery Southwest provides a venue for students, professional, and avocational archaeologists to publish articles as well as providing an opportunity to share questions and answers. It is available free of charge http://www.unm.edu/~psw. Submissions can be sent to psw@unm.edu.

Dig Ventures Features Pioneering Women in Archaeology
Back in the days when archaeology was a developing discipline, it was – like so many things – dominated by men. Or so you would think if you only looked at Wikipedia’s archaeology page. http://bit.ly/1Eokwhn – Dig Ventures

Lecture Opportunity – Durango
As part of the Four Corners Lecture Series, Fort Lewis College and the San Juan Basin Archaeological Society are pleased to present Dr. Kerry Thompson on Thursday, April 9 at 7 PM in room 120 of the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College. Dr. Thompson’s lecture, It’s About Time that We (Archaeologists) Recognize the Federal Indian Law Context of NAGPRA, considers the legal context and significance of NAGPRA as we prepare to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of this law. Contact Kelly Jenks at kljenks@fortlewis.edu with questions about this or related programs.

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Archaeologist Dr. Jeffrey M. Mitchem, who will give the lecture The Incredible Journey of Hernando de Soto Through the Southeast: From Florida to Arkansas on March 23 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Ancient Sites Ancient Stories II Lecture Series held annually to honor The Archaeological Conservancy. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary but seating is limited, so please come early. Refreshments are served. Contact Connie Eichstaedt tel: 505 466-2775; email: southwestseminar@aol.com; http://bit.ly/YhJddr – Southwest Seminars

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Archaeologist John A. Ware, who will give a lecture New Perspectives on Colonialism and Disease on March 30 at 6 pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Ancient Sites Ancient Stories II Lecture Series held annually to honor The Archaeological Conservancy. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary but seating is limited, so please come early. Refreshments are served. Contact Connie Eichstaedt tel: 505 466-2775; email: southwestseminar@aol.com; http://bit.ly/YhJddr – Southwest Seminars

Reminder: Ritual Racing on Perry Mesa Is the Topic of Archaeology Southwest’s Next Archaeology Café in Phoenix
On March 17, 2015, Will Russell (Arizona State University) will discuss ritual racing and the Perry Mesa Tradition. We meet in the Aztec Room of Macayo’s Central, 4001 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, near the Indian School light rail stop. Presentations begin after 6:00 p.m. It is best to arrive at about 5:30 p.m. in order to get settled, as seating is open and unreserved, but limited. Archaeology Café is free, but guests are encouraged to order their own refreshments from the menu. http://bit.ly/1BuqQEn – Archaeology Southwest