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” ...
more
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...
more
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...
more
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...
more
2015
10
Jun
Construction of Ancient Weapons
Devinne Fackelman, Grand Valley State University
A few days ago, I was given the opportunity to construct two common and well-used ancient weapons: a dart point (kind of like an arrowhead, but not used with an arrow) and an atlatl. I had flintknapped and thrown an atlatl dart in the past, but not t...
more
2014
17
Nov
Draw, Scan, Make, and Model: Complementary Approaches to Understanding Stone Tools
Lance K. Trask, Scientific Illustrator and Archaeology Southwest Member
There has been a shift from publishing scientific illustrations of artifacts to publishing photographs. Although there are a number of reasons for this, the primary one is that technical illustrations are a unique art form, and ...
more
2014
09
Mar
Southwestern Archaeology Provides Insights on Disaster Recovery
Southwestern Archaeology Provides Insights on Disaster Recovery
Following a natural disaster, vulnerability to food shortage appears to depend more on a group's ability to migrate and its positive relationships with other groups than on resource factors. That's according to a research team led by A...
more
2013
28
Jun
Experimental Archaeology at Mule Creek
By David Loome, field school student from Northern Arizona University/Coconino Community College
As students at the Preservation Archaeology Field School at Mule Creek, we are exposed almost every day to the tools and technology used by people in the past. By analyzing and studying artifacts like...
more
Show More