Border Construction Imperils Archaeological Sites in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Border Construction Imperils Archaeological Sites in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Environmental groups have fought unsuccessfully to halt construction in protected areas, arguing that more-imposing barriers could disrupt wildlife migration and threaten the survival of imperiled species. But there has been little mention of the potential damage to archaeological sites, where stone tools, ceramic shards and other pre-Columbian artifacts are extremely well-preserved in the arid environment. Desert-dwelling peoples have populated the area for at least 16,000 years, particularly around the oasis of Quitobaquito Springs in the national monument, one of the few places where the Quitobaquito pupfish and the endangered Sonoyta mud turtle still live in the wild. https://wapo.st/2LAQSRz – Washington Post

BLM’s Sale of Leases in Utah Likened to ‘Fire Sale’
Conservation and tribal groups are criticizing the Bureau of Land Management for its latest oil and gas lease sale of more than 70,000 acres of public land in Utah. The sale, which occurred this week, brought in around $1.63 million, according to the BLM, more than half of which came from 32,027 acres in San Juan County. The sale is the third since March 2018 to include land between Bears Ears and Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, much of which conservation groups say should not be leased. “This area has more archaeological sites than any other area open to oil and gas drilling in the United States,” said Josh Ewing, director of Bluff-based conservation group Friends of Cedar Mesa. http://bit.ly/2Ly9PUJ – KUER (NPR)

The share of Utah under lease for oil and gas development could grow by nearly 280 square miles this week after the Bureau of Land Management completed its latest quarterly auction of drilling rights on public lands. The 144-parcel online auction wrapped up Wednesday after three days of bidding, netting $1.5 million in bids, including $869,000 for 19 controversial parcels in San Juan County. These 32,000 acres overlap tribal cultural sites around Alkali Ridge and Montezuma Canyon east of Blanding. http://bit.ly/32RNdEP – Salt Lake Tribune

In its latest step towards ‘energy dominance’ at the sacrifice of national parks and other public lands, the Bureau of Land Management sold more than 30,000 acres of oil and gas leases in Southeast Utah today. The lease sale was broadly opposed by tribal, business, conservation and recreation industry leaders. The All Pueblo Council of Governors; San Juan County Commission; the Navajo Utah Commission; the Town of Bluff and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) were among those that sent letters to the BLM and Utah Governor Herbert, asking them to stop the leases near Hovenweep National Monument from advancing. http://bit.ly/32LKH2K – National Parks Conservation Association

Commentary: Defend against Assault on Our Public Lands
This fast-and-furious assault on tens of millions of acres of national monuments, cultural sites and other iconic lands ignores the department’s mandate to conserve certain lands as well as the will of the people. It’s essential that Americans act now, and let the administration know we won’t accept our public lands being handed over to oil and gas companies. Whether you’re a hiker or a hunter, biker or business owner, Democrat or Republican — our public lands belong to you. We must defend our common heritage together and protect the wild places we love. http://bit.ly/32OO7Sg – Anne Shields in The Hill

Publication Announcement: Enigmatic and Endangered: Cultural and Natural Wonders of Greater Grand Staircase-Escalante
Archaeology Southwest Magazine Vol. 33, Nos. 1 and 2. Issue editor R. E. Burrillo. Foreword by Nicole Croft, Grand Staircase Escalante Partners. https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/product/asw33-1-2/

The Free Publication Archaeologists Are Talking about This Week
Archaeological theory is not like Excalibur. Archaeologists don’t pull theory from a stone and wield it to subjugate the archaeological record. Archaeological theory exists as part of archaeological practice, from highly intellectual attempts to understand the trajectories of social change to the shame we felt tripping over the line levels at our first excavation. In An Unauthorized Companion to American Archaeological Theory, Lars Fogelin argues that archaeological theories are just tools that every archaeologist must use at various times. The trick is to use those tools well, and to laugh about the ways we so often use them badly. http://bit.ly/32L0QFJ – Lars Fogelin on Academia.edu (leads to a free PDF download)

Archaeology Café Begins 12^th Season in Tucson
Knowledge seekers of every kind are welcome at Archaeology Café at The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., for a series of programs exploring the deep and diverse history of the Southwest. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, as Dr. Aaron Wright discusses the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. Explore what makes this place special, discover what it tells us about life long ago, and learn how you can experience this significant place today. “Few places echo with as much historical resonance as the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. For me, that beckoning amplifies with each visit. Although this low outcrop is a bit off the beaten path, it hosts one of North America’s densest concentrations of petroglyphs. Most of these were authored by ancestors of today’s Piipaash, O’odham, and Yavapai communities. Thousands of people come here each year to experience the past in ways that defy description—and you should come, too. Currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an important place in the future Great Bend of the Gila National Monument.” http://bit.ly/32ORFUA – Archaeology Southwest

Lecture Opportunity, Alcalde NM
On September 24, at 6:00 p.m., the Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project will welcome “Na’inbi Owingeh, Our Place: Pueblo Voices, Stories and Remembrance,” a panel discussion presented and moderated by Dr. Matthew Martinez (Ohkay Owinge), the Deputy Director for the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. This panel includes perspectives of Pueblo people involved in the creation of intellectual and responsible cultural practices. Bernard Mora (Tesuque Pueblo) works in the area of cultural preservation and will talk about language and cultural survival at Taytsugeh Oweengeh. Andrea Kha Povi Harvier (Pojoaque/Santa Clara) will discuss her work on traditional pottery of Santa Clara Pueblo and the social changes that led to contemporary forms. The program will be held at the Heritage Center, 848 NM-68. https://www.mesaprietapetroglyphs.org/mesa-prieta-petroglyph-talks—upcoming.html

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Questions? sat-editor@archaeologysouthwest.org