Where to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024

Dear Friends,

Preservation Archaeologist and Field School Director Karen Schollmeyer here! Steve asked me to step in for him this week while he is recovering from Covid.

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of an important event in the archaeology of the US Southwest: the Mimbres Foundation’s first excavations in the Mimbres River Valley. I was fortunate to attend the recent anniversary celebrations during the 22^nd Biennial Mogollon Archaeology Conference in Silver City, New Mexico. (Steve intended to attend, too, but came down with the virus on the first evening and had to hole up in his hotel room for a few days!)

In the 1970s, archaeological sites in the Mimbres Valley were being systematically “mined” for pottery with bulldozers and backhoes. Many archaeologists at the time thought the destruction was so severe it was no longer worth even trying to learn about these ancient villages. The Mimbres Foundation disagreed, and set out to learn and preserve as much information as possible before commercial looting could destroy it all.

Beginning in 1974, a dedicated group of archaeologists spent five years on fieldwork to examine as many sites as possible from three elevation zones and five time periods represented in the valley. Their work showed that substantial information can be recovered even from heavily looted archaeological sites, and provided the foundation for much of what we know about Mimbres-area archaeology today. The Mimbres Foundation eventually purchased some archaeological sites and easements, and in 2011 Archaeology Southwest had the honor of assuming responsibility for their ongoing care.

It was wonderful to spend time with some of the crew from the Mimbres Foundation excavations who returned to the valley for this reunion. Some of them spent much of their subsequent careers working in this region and became academic mentors to my (and Steve’s) generation of archaeologists. It was also delightful to meet some of the nonarchaeologists who had served as crew in the 1970s—local then-teenagers from the Mimbres Valley who went on to a variety of other careers and lives across the country.

Not everything at the conference focused on the Mimbres Foundation anniversary, and there were plenty of presentations on the latest work in the region. Archaeology Southwest was well-represented, too: Danielle Romero and I each gave presentations on different aspects of our new field school with the Western New Mexico University Museum, and Rebecca Harkness, Stephen Uzzle and Stacy Ryan, and Thatcher Seltzer-Rogers (all field school alumni from past years) gave presentations on their current research. Archaeology Southwest volunteer Jaye Smith presented a Mogollon-focused study from the Robinson Collection work by a dedicated team of volunteers. (Alas, Steve couldn’t give his presentation as planned.) Hearing about everyone’s ongoing work proved that we still have much to learn even decades after naysayers claimed the area was too looted to bother studying.

An important theme throughout was how important the residents of the Mimbres Valley have been to preserving the archaeology there. Families who worked alongside archaeologists in the 1970s have continued to preserve archaeological resources on their properties in the ensuing decades. The local Grant County Archaeological Society and Imogen F. Wilson Education Foundation have rehabilitated historic buildings and developed an interpretive trail and visitor center at the Mattocks archaeological site (the Mimbres Culture Heritage Center). They have also promoted stewardship and appreciation for the region’s archaeology by producing countless archaeology-focused educational programs.

Volunteer efforts by these organizations have built on the Mimbres Foundation’s early efforts in order to ensure that the fascinating archaeological record of this region will be preserved into the future.

Hope you have a good week ahead! Steve will be back next week.

Karen

Preservation Archaeologist and Director, Preservation Archaeology Field School
Archaeology Southwest

Where to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024

The [Oct. 14] holiday honors and celebrates the histories, cultures and traditions of the first people of this land. In 2023, President Biden issued a Presidential Proclamation celebrating the day, stating in part, “On Indigenous Peoples Day, we honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.” Leading up to Oct. 14 and on the day of, events are being held throughout the country. Here you will find a running list of events that will continue to be updated leading up to Indigenous Peoples Day 2024. Indian Country Today | Read more »

Archaeology Southwest, Save History, and the Respect Great Bend Coalition will have booths at Indigenous Peoples’ Day Phoenix Fest on Oct. 14. Come say hello! Learn more »

HOPE Fellows Reflect on Experience Working at Camp Naco

In the Summer of 2024, Camp Naco, nestled into the southeast corner of Arizona, served as a living classroom for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s HOPE (Hands-On Preservation Experience) Crew’s 2024 Digital Documentation Fellowship, presented in partnership with the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Established in 1919, Camp Naco is a historic site known for its connection to the Buffalo Soldiers who patrolled the U.S.-Mexico border during the Mexican Revolution. The site features rare adobe and wood-frame structures from the early 20th century, inspiring preservation efforts aimed at protecting this significant piece of military and Black history. Camp Naco was listed on the National Trust’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places in 2022. This year’s cohort of 10 students, recruited from six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), spent three weeks traveling to Bisbee and Naco, Arizona, where they gained essential skills in digital documentation, all while contributing to the ongoing conservation efforts at the site. Sara Gace for Saving Places (National Trust for Historic Preservation) | Read more »

Archaeology at a 1930s Logging Camp in Northern Arizona

The Apex, Arizona Archaeology Project now has a monthly Artifact Blog! Each month, we’ll highlight a specific artifact or artifact category to explore how the historical archaeology of this Depression-era logging camp along the Grand Canyon Railway reveals the lives of the men, women, and children who lived and worked there. We also highlight a different “Mystery Artifact” each month, whose origins and purpose eludes us. Let us know if you recognize any of our featured mysteries. Northern Arizona University | Learn more »

KIVA Now on Social Media

You can follow KIVA on X (https://x.com/KivaSWJournal) and Bluesky (@kivaswjournal.bsky.social), in addition their presence on AAHS’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ArchandHist). KIVA is the leading refereed serial publication in the archaeology, anthropology, and history of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Published quarterly the journal contains articles on southwestern archaeology, anthropology and history. Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society | Learn more about KIVA »

Blog: Revitalizing and Reclaiming Indigenous Languages

This past summer, from June 3 to 28, I had the pleasure of attending CoLang. Formally known as the Institute on Collaborative Language Research, CoLang is a biennial institute centered on training in language revitalization and Indigenous community-based collaboration. Inspired by the CoLang Institute held in 2022 in Missoula, Montana, members from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) decided to host the next CoLang in Phoenix, Arizona. During cyberSW’s collaboration outreach on a project with SRPMIC, the O’odham Piipaash Language Program manager, Luis Barragan, mentioned CoLang and its linguistic training potential. Attending CoLang was a must for someone (me) who is not a trained linguist but would like to improve their skill set for a language revitalization project. Caitlynn Mayhew for the Preservation Archaeology blog (Archaeology Southwest) | Read more »

Publication Announcement: Working as Indigenous Archaeologists

Working as Indigenous Archaeologists: Reckoning New Paths Between Past and Present Lives, edited by George Nicholas and Joe Watkins. Routledge, 2024. Learn more »

Publication Announcement: Sacred Southwestern Landscapes

Sacred Southwestern Landscapes: Archaeologies of Religious Ecology, edited by Aaron M. Wright. University of Utah Press, 2024. Learn more »

Aaron wrote an affecting essay about how and why this volume came together. Read more »

October Live Lectures (Santa Fe NM)

Oct. 14, Carolyn E. Boyd, White Shaman & Enduring Myths of the Archaic Period: Rock Imagery in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands; Oct. 21, Verma Nequatewa (Hotvela, Second Mesa Hopi) and Robert W. Rhodes, Two Views of Hopi; Oct. 28, Benjamin Bellorado, Road Signs and Walking Shoes: Sandal Imagery as Part & Parcel of the Chaco Road System. 6:00 p.m., Hotel Santa Fe. $20 at the door or $75 for the series of 4 lectures in October. Southwest Seminars | Learn more »

TODAY: Oct. 10: The Paleoindian Southwest: The Role of the Greater Southwest in Understanding the Earliest Americans

With David Kilby. The first definitive evidence of Ice Age people in North America came from the Folsom site in northeastern New Mexico. Subsequent discoveries at Blackwater Draw and Arizona’s San Pedro Valley established the presence of Clovis mammoth hunters on the Southwestern landscape. In the ensuing decades, it became clear that underlying the relatively conspicuous archaeological record of the agricultural Southwest is an abundant record of Paleoindian occupations, with a correspondingly abundant history of significant discoveries and insights regarding late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers in western North America. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | Learn more and register (free) »

BEGINS TODAY: Oct. 10–11 In Person Event (Tucson AZ): Used Book Sale & Benefit

AAHS will hold its annual fall Book Sale on Thursday afternoon, October 10 (1–4 p.m.), and Friday, October 11 (10–4 p.m.), in front of the Arizona State Museum Building. Proceeds from the sale support the Arizona State Museum Library. Come browse and buy anthropology, history, biography, and general non-fiction books. New inventory including many beautiful American Indian Art books. Books are priced from $2.00 to $20.00. Due to ongoing restoration work at the Arizona State Museum, this may be our last book sale for some time, so don’t miss it. Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society | Learn more »

REMINDER: Oct. 17 Online Event: New Archaeological Insights from Ancient DNA

With Jakob Sedig. Ancient DNA data from over 300 individuals are providing new insights on the peoples who lived in central, western, and northern Mexico hundreds and thousands of years ago. These data have shed light for answering long-standing questions about migration and interaction of different archaeological cultures in key eras of Mexico’s past. Third Thursday Food for Thought series (Old Pueblo Archaeology Center) | Learn more and register (free) »

REMINDER: Oct. 18 In-Person Event: Tucson Archaeology Happy Hour

Borderlands Brewing Co. patio, 119 E. Toole Ave., 5:00–7:00 p.m. You know who you are! Questions?

Oct. 19 In-Person Event (Tucson AZ): Traditional O’odham Agriculture

With Maegan Lopez. Join us every third Saturday of the month at Mission Garden’s Placita (near the kitchen) for an insightful look into O’odham agricultural practices. This free event, led Maegan Lopez will share both traditional and post-contact farming methods that have shaped the region’s rich history. Mission Garden, 946 W. Mission Lane, 8:00–9:30 a.m. Free. Mission Garden and Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture | Learn more »

Oct. 19 In-Person Workshop (Tucson AZ): How Did People Haft a Knife?

Hands-On Archaeology with Allen Denoyer. Explore the history of hafted knives inspired by Southwest traditions. Learn hands-on techniques using pitch, sinew, and cordage to craft your knife. All materials provided, including a stone blade and a variety of woods to create your handle. Beginners are welcome (ages 12 & up)! Wear long pants and bring gloves for carving. $50 fee for nonmembers. Archaeology Southwest | Learn more »

Oct. 21 In-Person Event (Springerville AZ): Save History: The ARPA Assistance Initiative

With D. J. “Dusty” Whiting. Whiting will speak on the ARPA (Archaeological Resources Protection Act) Initiative and current strategies being utilized to protect archaeological sites on tribal lands. Mr. Whiting is a Game Ranger and Fire Investigator for the White Mountain Apache Tribe at Whiteriver, Arizona, and owner of Lone Ranger Resources LLC, which specializes in mitigating archaeological and cultural resource crimes. He is a former Law Enforcement Specialist (Instructor) for the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security and a retired U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Special Agent. He worked for 20 years on Indian reservations in South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Springerville Heritage Center, 418 E. Main St. 6:30 p.m. Little Colorado River Chapter, Arizona Archaeological Society | For more information call Bill Butler at 928-245-9098

Nov. 7 Online and In-Person (Phoenix AZ) Event: Archaeology Southwest Tribal Collaboration Model

With Skylar Begay. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on Tribal collaboration from Archaeology Southwest’s Director of Tribal Collaboration, Skylar Begay. During this session, we will discuss the innovative model for Tribal collaboration Skylar and Ashleigh Thompson created and discover new approaches to strengthen Tribal partnerships. Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (Desert Botanical Garden) | Learn more and register (free) »

Nov. 9 In-Person Workshop (Tucson AZ): Arrowhead-Making and Flintknapping

With Sam Greenleaf. Participants will learn how to make arrowheads, spear points, and other flaked stone artifacts from obsidian and other stone like ancient peoples did. The class is designed to foster understanding of how Native Americans made essential tools, not to train students how to make artwork for sale. Reservations and $35 payment (includes all materials and equipment) required by 5:00 p.m. Nov. 7. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center | Learn more »

Nov. 12 In-Person Event (Tucson AZ): Weaving the Hair of the Dog

With Laurie Webster. Join us in-person at Catalyst Creative Collective in the Tucson Mall, where Webster (anthropologist and independent scholar) will discuss “Weaving the Hair of the Dog: White Dog Hair Textiles in the Ancient Southwest.” White dog hair played a unique role in Southwestern weaving during the period from 100 to 900 CE. Laurie will explore the cultural importance of this fiber, types of woven items produced, and evidence that early Southwestern peoples bred white dogs. Archaeology Café (Archaeology Southwest) | 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!