2024
04
Jun
Hands-On Archaeology: Let’s Straighten Something Out
Meet the mighty shaft straightener!
Allen Denoyer, Ancient Technologies Expert
(June 4, 2024)—People used these ground stone tools to straighten wood or reeds used to make arrow shafts. The shaft straightener was placed in the coals of a hot fire and heated up. The arrow shaft was then pressed i...
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2024
03
Jun
My First Several Months at Archaeology Southwest
Ben Pelletier, Preservation Archaeologist
(June 3, 2024)—Hello, all! I am a relatively new employee here at Archaeology Southwest. This is my first blog post to introduce myself and talk about what I have been up to during my first several months with the organization. My background is primarily ...
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2024
30
May
Show Your Support for Historic Bears Ears Management Plan
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 anniversa...
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2024
22
May
Bruce Huckell, Beloved Southwestern Archaeologist, Passes
Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, Skylar Begay (Director of Tribal Collaboration) and I attended the Conservation Lands Foundation’s biennial Friends Summit in Salt Lake City. Representatives of more than 80 conservation-minded nonprofits from across the American West attended, and it was truly ...
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2024
15
May
Why Expansion of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Matters
Hi Everyone!
Steve is in DC this week for a whirlwind tour of allies, congressional staffers, and agency leads. He texted me this morning: “I had 9 formal meetings in 54 hours in DC and walked 30 miles back and forth across town while doing so. Between the architecture and symbolism, the great ...
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2024
08
May
Great News for the Lands Between!
Dear Friends,
On Saturday, May 4, I had the good fortune to attend Ndee Ła Ade, the 23rd Gathering of the People Celebration at Fort Apache Historic Park on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in east-central Arizona. It’s an annual event with song and dance competitions, food, arts and craf...
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2024
02
May
Two National Monuments Expanded
Dear Friends,
On May 1, 2024, the entire Archaeology Southwest staff gathered in Tucson to begin an Appreciative Inquiry process that will flow into a strategic planning exercise this fall. What is Appreciative Inquiry, you ask?
According to experts Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom, “A...
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2024
24
Apr
Archaeologist Flint Dibble Debates Graham Hancock on Major Podcast
Dear Friends,
Archaeology Southwest has for many years run a field school to train the next generation of archaeologists. This year’s session, directed by Preservation Archaeologist Dr. Karen Schollmeyer and WNMU Museum Director Dr. Danielle Romero, will focus on teaching students how to catalo...
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2024
24
Apr
Celebrating Field School Alumni in 2024
Karen Gust Schollmeyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Director, Preservation Archaeology Field School
(April 24, 2024)—Spring is traditionally a time for celebrating new beginnings, and many of our former field school students and staff members are doing just that! I’ve been happy to catch u...
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2024
18
Apr
Breaking News: Interior Finalizes Public Lands Rule
Dear Friends,
It’s been another busy week. After a lovely weekend in Salt Lake City for my son’s rugby tournament, on Sunday I flew to Washington D.C. for the “Monumental Call to Action” lobbying effort (see second story below). On Wednesday, I flew to New Orleans, Louisiana, where 4,500 ...
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2024
11
Apr
Interactive Digital Experience for an Important Place in the Dinétah
Dear Friends,
My last few missives have been downers, focusing as they have on the continuing desecration of the San Pedro Valley by construction of the SunZia powerline. That work proceeds at a rapid pace; last week I counted at least 45 tower pads from the air. During a field trip on Monday of ...
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2024
03
Apr
Bears Ears Partnership Debuts Short Documentary
Dear Friends,
Paul Reed, Preservation Archaeologist and Director of our New Mexico State Program, recently published a stunning report on the problem of orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells and energy infrastructure surrounding Bears Ears National Monument in Utah and Chaco Canyon National Hi...
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