2017
20
Jun
Experimental Archaeology: Basketmaker Atlatl
Stephen Uzzle, Cochise College
June 20, 2017—One of the best ways to understand how ancient peoples lived is to study experimental archaeology. Experimental archaeology is reconstructing tools made by ancient peoples using the same means they used to create them. The atlatl was a game-changing ad...
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2017
21
May
Burning Down the (Pit) House
Burning Down the (Pit) House
In 2015, volunteers joined me in building a half-scale model of a typical dwelling from the Early Agricultural period (2000 B.C.–A.D. 50) in the Tucson Basin. We built the model near our full-scale replica Hohokam pithouse at Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley, a public pr...
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2017
19
May
Burning Down the (Pit) House, part 1
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
(May 19, 2017)—In 2015, volunteers joined me in building a half-scale model of a typical dwelling from the Early Agricultural period (2000 B.C.–A.D. 50) in the Tucson Basin. We built the model near our full-scale replic...
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2016
03
Nov
Learning the Secrets
Andy Ward, Potter and New Media Consultant
(October 27, 2016)—Yesterday afternoon I drove out onto the Willcox Playa, where I dug down about a foot deep and found a rich layer of greenish clay, and now that clay is soaking in a bucket on my back porch. Over the last couple of weeks I have sampl...
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2016
14
Oct
Decisions in Clay
As International Archaeology Day (October 15, 2016) approaches, we're celebrating by sharing posts about what we're working on now—the daily work of archaeology. Today, we have a guest post from Mary, our colleague at Desert Archaeology, Inc.
Mary Ownby, Research Petrographer, Desert Archaeol...
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2016
05
Sep
U.S. Rep. Grijalva and Tribal Members Unite to Protect Great Bend of the Gila
U.S. Rep. Grijalva and Tribal Members Unite to Protect Great Bend of the Gila
In light of a study recently released by Archaeology Southwest which connects various tribes including those in Yuma to the Great Bend of the Gila, Congressman Raul Grijalva joined together with tribal representatives and...
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2016
11
Jul
Antelope Creek Obsidian
Kaitlyn Cometa, University of Delaware
(July 12, 2016)—What is the first thing you think of when you hear someone refer to the obsidian at a specific source as “bomb” obsidian? Probably that you don’t want to be near it when it blows up. I however, was drawn to the idea of the “bomb” ...
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2016
27
Jun
Adobe Walls
Conner Awayda, SUNY–Buffalo
(June 27, 2016)—Protecting from wind and rain, allowing cool temperatures in the summer, and heating in the winter, adobe makes up the walls of past homes. A mixture of sand and clay, adobe is made from earth and water. By mixing in water until the soil is the righ...
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2016
11
Jun
In Appreciation
Patrick Depret-Guillaume, University of Virginia
(June 11, 2016)—Attending field school has given me a renewed appreciation for the skill and ingenuity of humanity’s common ancestors. For millions of years, stone technology underpinned our survival. For centuries considered crude and primit...
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2015
17
Dec
My Flintknapping Problem
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
(December 17, 2015)—I was reading an old book (1927) about artifact collecting recently, and I came across a funny line. The author, Virgil Y. Russell, offered this advice on how to make “Indian arrowheads”:
Don’t. N...
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2015
14
Oct
From Arrowhead Hunter to Archaeologist
Between now and October 17, 2015, Archaeology Southwest is participating in the Archaeological Institute of America's celebration of International Archaeology Day (10/17/15) by sharing blog posts about why—or how—we became archaeologists. Today we feature Allen Denoyer, who leads our Hands-On Ar...
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2015
07
Aug
Raising the Roof
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
(August 7, 2015)—The process began before the students arrived. After obtaining a Forest Service permit, I cut a couple of loads of juniper poles for the roof. I cut the poles when they were green, so they were heavy! I had...
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