Oak Flat Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Oak Flat Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Opponents of a proposed copper mine at the Oak Flat campground scored a point when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places this month – but while they won the battle, they haven’t won the war. While Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, said in a prepared statement that the designation is aimed at “sabotaging an important mining effort,” a National Register official said Monday that the listing is a “label that yes, it (Oak Flat) is in fact a historic resource,” but it doesn’t necessarily prevent mining at the site. http://bit.ly/1RvanTQ – Tucson Sentinel

The Antiquities Act Is Under Attack, Again
A vital tool that has preserved places of great historic and cultural significance is again under threat. Join us in asking Congress to stand up for the Antiquities Act, to help protect the places that help define us as a nation. In the current Congress, a number of bills and amendments threaten to significantly weaken the power of the Antiquities Act, a law that since 1906 has enabled presidents from both parties to save some of America’s most treasured places, from the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon. This is especially egregious considering our country is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service this year! http://bit.ly/1PkSzt6 – National Trust for Historic Preservation

Aerial Perspective: The Road to Mesa Verde May Soon Feature Oil and Gas Wells
From the vantage of a lofty aerial view, the entrance into Mesa Verde National Park largely remains an untouched gateway into the past where visitors can immerse themselves in some of the best-preserved ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in the country. On Thursday, EcoFlight, the environmental advocacy group that uses small aircraft to educate people about the protection of wild lands, gave 12 passengers an aerial view of what is at risk. http://bit.ly/22qJzQ1 – Durango Herald

Closure of Spruce Tree House a “Disappointment,” but the Safety Precaution Is Not Keeping Visitors from Mesa Verde
Despite the closure of one of the park’s most popular attractions, Mesa Verde National Park rangers don’t anticipate a drop in visitors to the 13th century ruins, which are a critical element to the local economy. In February, Park Service officials announced Mesa Verde’s most visited cliff dwelling – Spruce Tree House – would close indefinitely because of falling rock. A portion of Spruce Tree House was cordoned off in September from self-guided tours after loose rock broke away the month before. Park Service engineers in October decided to close the entire site. http://bit.ly/1Rv9YRg – Durango Herald

More Information about Paleoindian Archaeology at Water Canyon NM
Shaggy, heavy-shouldered bison have grazed the wide open spaces of the American Southwest for thousands of years. They made a tempting target for the hunters who walked the empty landscape between 9,000 and 13,000 years ago. The bison were attracted to a lush landscape west of Socorro, New Mexico where wetlands created by mountain runoff stretched across hundreds of acres. The hunters were attracted to the bison. n 2000, archeologist Robert Dello-Russo was hired by the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMERTC) at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to survey land where they wanted to build a new observation facility for their explosives research. He contracted to look for archeological sites on the state-owned land, and found much more than anyone expected. http://bit.ly/1XG9ZX2 – University of New Mexico

Mesa AZ Seeks Nominations for Historic Preservation Awards
Nominations are being sought for the city of Mesa’s historic preservation awards for outstanding achievement. There are several awards categories: archaeology, adaptive reuse, education and outreach, landscape preservation, local preservationist, rehabilitation and restoration, stewardship and individual lifetime achievement. http://bit.ly/1PkQuxe – East Valley Tribune

California Archaeology Month Celebrated at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Join the Colorado Desert Archaeology Society and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for a weekend filled with the archaeology found in this beautiful desert. Events will be happening Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3, outside of the Visitor Center. Presentations will be happening in the Discovery Lab inside the Visitor Center Saturday, and field trips will be run Sunday to different areas of the Ancient Lake Cahuilla Area. http://bit.ly/1RYcBvu – Anza Valley Outlook

Lecture Opportunities – Williams
March is Archaeology month and the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts along with North Kaibab representatives are presenting a series of talks and hikes. Presentations by South Kaibab Zone Archaeologist Neil Weintraub and other members of the Forest Service are being given every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. throughout March at Café 326 in Williams. http://bit.ly/1Rd2282 – Grand Canyon News