Dear Friends,
In a busy, often chaotic world, it is good to take time to reflect and think once in a while. Over the last couple of days, I have had the chance to do both in work and personal capacities. On the personal side, my wife and I were lucky enough to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs near Nathrop, Colorado. When we came out of our room on the way to a wonderful dinner, people were already outside, gasping at the beauty and wonder of a double rainbow immediately to the east of us. It was, in short, amazing. Vibrant, well-defined color bands, we could see it almost end-to-end. The scientist in me briefly wondered—why don’t we ever see inverted rainbows? Then I realized that we should just stop and enjoy the moment. So we did.
On the work front, I am a member of the Arizona Historic Preservation Plan Working Group, which is advising the State Historic Preservation Office on their next strategic plan. Yesterday, a small group of us, which included state and federal officials, two ranchers, and non-profit representatives, started musing on the meaning of the phrase “generational heritage” in the context of cultural landscapes (another challenging term!). As you can see from links below, it can be astonishingly difficult to define terms like “co-management” and “co-stewardship” from multicultural perspectives; the same is true for “generational heritage,” especially when talking about more than the commonly used phrase “generational wealth.” We did not come up with a good definition yet. But if and when you take a few minutes to consider it over the next few days, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what “generational heritage” might mean to you and yours!
Until next week,
Steve Nash
President & CEO, Archaeology Southwest
Banner image: Bears Ears buttes, R.E. Burrillo
Commentary: Show Your Support for Historic Bears Ears Management Plan
The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service recently released a historic draft Resource Management Plan for Bears Ears, created in collaboration with five Native American Tribes. The first-of-its-kind plan for the monument’s 1.36 million acres of public land balances preservation and use—such as how the monument’s lands and resources will be cared for and protected, what recreational opportunities will be allowed, and where motorized vehicles can go and livestock can graze. … This momentous strategy commits to long-term Tribal collaboration so management of the landscape emphasizes the full, connected ecosystem and reasonably balances public access and use of the monument. It aims to protect the land’s cultural and natural resources and help the monument share a fuller history of who has cared for this land for thousands of years. National Parks Conservation Association | Read more »
Support the plan (Alternative E) »
Co-Management or Co-Stewardship?
You would think that “co-stewardship” and “co-management” would be simple terms to define, but there are numerous federal documents that have used the two terms interchangeably over the years. Co-stewardship is a broad term that describes agreements made between federal agencies and tribal nations to hash out shared interests in the management of federal lands. Co-management refers to a stronger tribal presence and decision-making power. … Congressional action is not the only way to gain co-management powers. The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition in Utah has one of the most successful stories of tribes gaining co-management status—they were given “true co-management” by an Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement. Taylar Dawn Stagner for Grist | Read more »
Read Archaeology Southwest’s position paper on this continuum »
Preservation Tips and Tools: How to Save a Place
Consider these toolkits your preservation primer—a one-stop shop for people who love places but aren’t sure how to save them. Many valuable resources, materials, and people are available to help, so whether you’re a historic homeowner, local nonprofit, or simply an active citizen, you’ll find something here to help you out. National Trust for Historic Preservation | Learn more »
Publication Announcement: Settlement Persistence in the Prehispanic Central Mesa Verde Region
Darcy Bird, R. Kyle Bocinsky, Kelsey M. Reese, Timothy A. Kohler, Settlement persistence in the prehispanic central Mesa Verde Region: A dynamic analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 56, 2024. Learn more »
Position Announcement: Archaeologist (2 positions), Western Colorado Area Office
Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as an Archeologist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Durango, Colorado and Grand Junction, Colorado. US Bureau of Reclamation | Learn more »
Tucson-Area Parents! Still Need a Summer Camp?
It’s more than just history! Children will engage in hands-on activities and adventure while exploring a replica Spanish Fort, a replica 2000-year-old pit house, and a historic home from the 1800s. They will gain a sense of place and time along the way. Register for one or for all three. Presidio San Agustín del Tucson | Learn more »
REMINDER: TODAY, May 30 Online Event: Listening Seriously for O’odham Heritage
With Brett Hill. In this talk, Dr. Hill will discuss his insights into the value of considering Native perspectives on heritage. Archaeologists have historically either ignored Native American perspectives on their own past or granted them alternative status irreconcilable with scientific archaeology. In his research on the ‘mysterious disappearance’ of the Hohokam, Dr. Hill has been struck by how much recent archaeological findings converge with what O’odham people have said for generations. This convergence does not necessarily represent an alternative, ideological view, but includes significant empirical insights that archaeologists have begun to productively incorporate into their own scientific understanding of the past. This advance has come in large part from listening more carefully and taking Native accounts seriously. But, listening carefully offers more than just insight into the past; it offers a view of heritage that includes the present and future. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | Learn more and register (free) »
June Subscription Lectures (Santa Fe NM)
June 3, Melanie Mitchell, Artificial Intelligence vs. Human Intelligence: Similarities and Differences; June 10, Steve Davis, Beating Heart of the World: The Taos Art Colony & the Pueblo Resistance; June 24, Scott Ortman and Robert Weiner, Continuity and Rupture in Pueblo Ritual Landscapes from the Chaco World to the Rio Grande Valley. Monday evenings, 6:00 p.m., Hotel Santa Fe, $20 at the door or $55 for the June series. Southwest Seminars | Learn more »
June 1 In-Person Event (Oro Valley AZ and around the globe): World Atlatl Day!
Join Archaeology Southwest’s Hands-On Archaeology program at Catalina State Park for a fascinating and interactive celebration of World Atlatl Day! Learn more about the ancient art of atlatl throwing and connect with history in a unique, hands-on way. Hands-On Archaeology (Archaeology Southwest) | Learn more »
REMINDER: June 8 In-Person Event (Scottsdale AZ): Mesquite Pancake Breakfast
The Huhugam Ki: Museum (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community) invites the public to this free event where you can learn more about the mesquite pod, picking season, recipes, and more. 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., 10005 E. Osborn Rd (SE corner of Longmore & Osborn). Huhugam Ki: Museum | Learn more »
June 20 Online Event: The Gypsum Overlook Paleo-Archaic Archaeological Site in New Mexico’s White Sands
With Matthew Cuba. Excavations at this site identified ca. 8,800-year-old habitation structures, hearths, and flaked and ground stone artifacts—one of the earliest records of Paleoindian-to-Archaic transition period housing and ground stone in the Southwest. Third Thursday Food for Thought series (Old Pueblo Archaeology Center) | Learn more and register (free) »
June 22 Online Event: Comanches, Captives, Germans: Transactions on the Texas Frontier, 1847
With Daniel J. Gelo and Christopher J. Wickham. In 2021, three finely worked sketches dating back to the middle of the nineteenth century were brought to the attention of scholars studying the relationship between German settlers and Comanche Indians. Seemingly the work of one artist, and (with one exception) never published, the sketches feature Comanches, Germans, a captive girl, a wagon train, the landscape and wildlife of the Texas Hill Country, and dynamic scenes of cultural contact. Who was the girl? Who were the Comanches involved? Who were the Germans? Where and when did this captive exchange take place? What do we make of the rich Indian and German cultural details that the artist includes? How can we understand his work—as art, as data about Comanche life and customs, and as documentation of a specific cultural encounter? And, of course, who was the artist, and how important is his work? Trying to find answers to these questions, the presenters will examine the drawings in detail and decode information placed by the artist. Amerind Museum | Learn more and register (free) »
June 25 In-Person Event (Prescott AZ): Toward Reconciling Differing Views of Yavapai Origins
Yavapai Elders rarely meet with anthropologists. Perhaps as a result, there has long been a disconnect between Yavapai views of their genetic and cultural origins and the beliefs of many anthropologists and archaeologists. Using formal presentations, this symposium will explore, analyze, and discuss diverse perspectives on who the Yavapai people are, when and where they originated, how they articulate with prehistoric archaeological cultures, and related topics. Yavapai Elders will get the last word in a round-table discussion. Register for the Preserve AZ 2024 conference to attend. Arizona Preservation Foundation | Learn more »
Remember to send us notice of upcoming webinars and Zoom lectures, tours and workshops, and anything else you’d like to share with the Friends. Thanks!