Kennewick Man Finally Declared Native American, Remains to Be Returned to Tribes for Reburial

Kennewick Man Finally Declared Native American, Remains to Be Returned to Tribes for Reburial
The ancient skeleton known as Kennewick Man is related to modern Native American tribes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday, opening the process for returning to tribes for burial one of the oldest and most complete set of bones ever found in North America. The Northwestern Division of the corps said its decision was based on a review of new information, particularly recently published DNA and skeletal analyses. http://bit.ly/1SU6QSU – MSN News

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell’s Vision for a New Century of Conservation
This week is National Park Week — a time when we celebrate the more than 400 natural, historical and cultural sites that make up the most incredible parks system on Earth. Places that attract visitors from around the world and inspire other nations to follow our lead. But being the “best” wasn’t always a forgone conclusion. http://bit.ly/1VGfbNA – US Deprtment of the Interior via Medium.Com

Congratulations to the Archaeological Conservancy: Research on their 500th Protected Site Highlights Best Practices in Low-Impact Archaeology
Recent exciting research was conducted at the 500th Site Pueblo, a previously unresearched Chaco outlier site. This site makes the 500 site protected and preserved by The Archaeological Conservancy. The new research focused on ceramics analysis and geophysical site survey. The project was led by Hannah Mattson PhD, postdoctoral fellow of UNM with help from Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Dr. Patricia Crown, also UNM. The Research team also came across some amazing surface finds during the process. http://bit.ly/1ra2NIp – The Archaeological Conservancy

National Trust for Historic Preservation Seeking Nominations for 2016’s Most Endangered Places
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for its annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. For over a quarter century, this list has highlighted important examples of the nation’s architectural, cultural and natural heritage that are at risk for destruction or irreparable damage. Nominations are due on June 15, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. Historic places are a tangible reminder of who we are as a nation,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “For over 25 years, the National Trust’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has helped shine a spotlight on important and threatened historic places throughout the nation, helping not only to preserve these places, but also galvanizing local support for the preservation of other unique, irreplaceable treasures that make our nation and local communities special.” http://bit.ly/1Y1lKrM – National Trust for Historic Preservation via PR-Web

Mesa Verde National Park Drives $55 Million in Annual Heritage Tourism Spending
The more than 547,000 people who visited Mesa Verde National Park last year spent $55.4 million in nearby communities. A new report from the National Park Service shows that visitor spending also supported 814 jobs in the area. Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer says national park tourism is a “significant driver” in the national economy and a “big factor” in the local economy. http://cbsloc.al/1Z0DPX5 – CBS Denver

San Juan Community College Offers Encore Class for Lifelong Learners: Chacoan Villages along the Great North Road
Even for residents who have lived all of their lives in the Four Corners, Chaco Canyon can surprise and delight. “Chaco Canyon’s amazing Puebloan sites are well-known to fans of the ancient past,” said archaeologist Paul Reed. “Less well-known are sites along the Great North Road, between Chaco and the Middle San Juan. The sites of Pierres, Halfway House and Twin Angels are important outposts on the Road, along with numerous other, smaller pueblos.” http://bit.ly/1Te2B1s – Farmington Daily Times

Reminder: Final Archaeology Café of the Season – Tucson
On May 3, 2016, Lewis Borck (University of Arizona, Archaeology Southwest), will present “Consent and Dissent in Deep Time.” Borck will talk about the spread of Salado across the southern Southwest. Borck views this as a decentralized religious movement that contended with entrenched, hierarchical belief systems in various areas. We meet on the patio of Casa Vicente, 375 S. Stone Ave., Tucson. Presentations begin after 6:00 p.m. It is best to arrive before 5:30 p.m., as seating is open and unreserved, but limited. http://bit.ly/1WQ5dIJ – Archaeology Southwest

Lecture Opportunity – Cave Creek
Desert Foothills Chapter – AAS presents on May 11th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at no charge, Steve Hoza. It happened 158 years ago just south of Phoenix. The Battle of Pima Butte, or the Battle of Maricopa Wells, was fought on June 1, 1857 at Pima Butte, Arizona near Maricopa Wells in the Sierra Estrella. “Arizona’s Greatest Battle” by Steve Hoza describes the events surrounding this significant Arizona battle and details of the battle itself. Yuma, Mohave, Apache and Yavapai warriors fought the Maricopa (Piipaash) and Pima (O’Odham) at a Maricopa village named Secate in one of the largest battles in Arizona’s history. This battle represented the last major battle between Native Americans in North America and the last major battle fought by the Yuman people. The meeting is held in the community building (Maitland Hall) at The Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (near the Dairy Queen). http://bit.ly/1aYMEY2 -Desert Foothills Chapter of the Arizona Archaeology Society

Lecture Opportunity – Cortez, CO
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeology Society is pleased to present Paul Reed on Tuesday, May 3^rd at 7:00 PM at the Methodist Church, 515 Park Street, Cortez, CO to discuss Protecting Greater Chaco: Recent Efforts to Save a Fragile Cultural Landscape. Paul will summarize the work of Archaeology Southwest, as well as many others, in protecting the greater Chaco Landscape from increased drilling and fracking and will detail the steps taken to help ensure greater protection for the irreplaceable landscape associated with Chacoan Society. Contact Kari Schleher at 505-269-4475 with questions.

Lecture Opportunity – Taos
The Taos Archaeological Society is pleased to present Dr. Mike Adler, Executive Director, SMU-in-Taos Campus and Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, who will lecture on Leaving Home: Understanding Prehistoric Population Relocation in the Taos Region, on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7 pm at Ft. Burgwin Dining Hall on the SMU-in-Taos Campus, Hwy. 518, 6 miles south of Talpa. Contact Don Keefe @575224-1023 for questions or further information.

Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
Lecture Opportunity – Tucson, AZ The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS) is pleased to present John D. Hall on Monday, May 16^that 7:30 pm in the University Medical Center’s Duval Auditorium (1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson 85724), who will discuss, “The Luke Solar Project: Middle and Late Archaic Period Subsistence and Settlement in the Western Phoenix Basin.” Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please visit the AAHS website: http://www.az-arch-and-hist.org/, or contact John D. Hall at jhall@sricrm.com with questions about this or any other AAHS program.

Lecture Update – Santa Fe
Change of Speaker…May 2 Southwest Seminars Presents George Crawford, Director and Staff Archaeologist, Blackwater Draw National Historic Landmark Site and Museum, Portales, NM
(not Dr. J. David Kilby) who will give a lecture Ice Age New Mexico Archaeology Past and Present at Clovis Site/Blackwater Draw on May 2 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Ancient Sites Ancient Stories II Lecture Series held to honor and acknowledge The Archaeology Conservancy. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary. Refreshments are served. Seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt, tel: 505 466-2775; email: southwest seminar@aol.com; http://bit.ly/YhJddr– Southwest Seminars

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Dr. Payson Sheets, Archaeologist and Professor of Anthropology and College Professor of Distinction, University of Colorado; Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science; Author, The Ceren Site: An Ancient Village in Central America Buried by Volcanic Ash who will give a lecture Secrets of the Maya Revealed: El Ceren, El Salvador and Loma Caldera Eruption, 650 AD on May 9 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Ancient Sites Ancient Stories II Lecture Series held to honor and acknowledge the work of The Archaeology Conservancy. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary. Refreshments are served. Seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt, tel: 505 466-2775; email: southwest seminar@aol.com; http://bit.ly/YhJddr – Southwest Seminars

Lecture Opportunity – Winslow
On May 11th, he Homolovi Chapter of the Arizona Archaeology Society is pleased to present speakers Evelyn Billo & Robert Mark of Rupestrian CyberServices in Flagstaff, AZ on The Wonderful World of Rock Art in Southern New Mexico and Far West Texas. Imagery covered in their photographic presentation include Archaic geometric designs, impressive Joranda Mogollon petroglyphs, and proto historic/historic Apache creations, from sites like Hueco Tanks State Historic Park near El Paso, the new Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, the Jornada Experimental Range, private property, and amazing public sites like Three Rivers.  The Homolovi Chapter meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (Historic Lorenzo Hubbell Trading Post), 523 W. Second St in Winslow. You can also join us and the speaker(s) for dinner at 5 p.m. at the Historic La Posada Turquoise Room (on your own tab).

Thanks to Cherie Freeman for contributing to this week’s SAT newsletter.