2018
09
Jul
Adapting
Dee Morris, University of Arizona
(July 10, 2018)—During our time at this field school, many of our lessons have been about how people adapted to their environment over time. Through our lectures and excavations, we’ve learned how ancient people in the Southwest adjusted to social change by i...
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2018
06
Jul
The Making of a Preservation Archaeologist
Jojo Matson, Utah State University
(July 9, 2018)—Throughout history, archaeology has often been viewed as invasive digging and robbing of burials and homes of Indigenous persons and places. In many respects that sometimes isn’t too far from the truth. Thankfully, not all archaeology follows ...
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2018
03
Jul
Ouch...that's sharp!
Kiley Stoj, SUNY Cortland
(July 3, 2018)—Coming all the way from New York, the desert was a bit of a shock. As I sat looking out the window of the plane, I watched the landscape change from green grass and bushy trees to a sandy landscape peppered with shrubs and other desert plants. In a mom...
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2018
25
Jun
Learning to See
Constance Connolly, Sewanee, the University of the South
(June 25, 2018)—Heading into this field school, I had no idea the wide range of knowledge and experience I would gain that would in turn help me become a better student and hopefully a better archaeologist. The beginning of the field scho...
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2018
19
Jun
Chaco Canyon's Agricultural Potential Reappraised
New Appraisal of Agricultural Potential in Chaco Canyon
Discussions of agricultural feasibility and its impact on local population levels at Chaco Canyon have been heavily influenced by studies of soil salinity. A number of researchers have argued that salinized soils severely limited local agricul...
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2018
15
Jun
Experiences compared to expectations
Matthew Steber, Arizona State University
(June 15, 2018)—My time spent at the Preservation Archaeology Field School has deepened my appreciation for ancient artifacts. I believe the goal of archaeology is to use cultural material to gain a better understanding of how people lived in the past. A...
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2018
14
Jun
On the Hunt for Obsidian
Laura Rojas, Adelphi University
(June 13, 2018)—On June 5, experimental archaeologist Allen Denoyer, fellow field school student Shiloh, and I spent the day in the Gila National Forest looking for obsidian in order to gain a better understanding of the process involved in flintknapping. This is...
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2018
12
Jun
Finding Walls at the Gila River Farm Site
Leslie Aragon, Preservation Archaeology Fellow
(June 12, 2018)—On Saturday we finished our first week of excavation at the Gila River Farm site. It has been a really fun and productive week, even though we have been dealing with record high temperatures (over 100˚F already!). The students have...
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2018
11
Jun
Small World
Karen Schollmeyer, Preservation Archaeologist
(June 11, 2018)—Our field school has been in session for just over a week now. As usual, we began with a whirlwind introduction to Hohokam area archaeology before proceeding to our camp in Cliff, New Mexico. We’re settling in to our normal routi...
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2018
29
May
More News and Views on New Bill to Protect Greater Chaco
More News and Views on New Bill to Protect Greater Chaco
The fight to preserve Chaco Canyon cannot take decades — too much would be lost — but passing this important legislation is a step in the right direction. Remember, too, that Chaco is not just a New Mexico treasure. Like Stonehenge in Eng...
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2018
26
Apr
Field School Alumni at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings
Karen Schollmeyer, Preservation Archaeologist
(April 26, 2018)—Earlier this month, several of us from Archaeology Southwest were able to attend the Society for American Archaeology annual meetings in Washington, DC. One of the highlights of these meetings for me is getting to spend time with ...
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2018
27
Mar
What's in a Notch?
Stacy Ryan, Preservation Archaeologist
(March 28, 2018)—Projectile points were important tools for hunting and weaponry. They might have served a social function, as well, as suggested by occasional elaborate designs or placement in ritual deposits. We study points because they may be reliabl...
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