SunZia Transmission Project in the San Pedro Valley—February 14, 2024 ArchaeologySouthwest 2026-09-28 | SunZia Transmission Project in the San Pedro Valley—February 14, 2024
Revitalizing Cultural Lifestyle through Archeological Preservation ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-11-07 | On November 1, 2022, Kevin Cooeyate (Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Zuni) and James Othole (Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Zuni) discussed “Revitalizing Cultural Lifestyle through Archeological Preservation.” Reconnecting indigenous young adults to ancestral lifeways through the service work of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Program. Leading their Nations back to ecological and cultural well-being. Click the link to learn more about the Ancestral Lands Program and how you can help their work ancestrallands.org/.
Diné Archaeology on Chacra Mesa ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-10-13 | On October 4, 2022, Davina Two Bears (Swathmore College), and Ruth Van Dyke (Binghamton University State University of New York) discussed “Diné Archaeology on Chacra Mesa.” Davina Two Bears and Ruth Van Dyke discuss a collaborative project in which they re-visited and re-documented historic Diné (Navajo) sites on Chacra Mesa in Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Birds of the Sun: Macaws, Parrots, and People ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-05-06 | On May 3, 2022, Christopher W. Schwartz (Northern Arizona University), Patricia A. Gilman (University of Oklahoma) and Stephen Plog (Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia) discussed “Birds of the Sun: Macaws, Parrots, and People.” Macaws and parrots are colorful birds generally native to areas south of the border between the US and Mexico, but they are present in numerous archaeological sites in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as at the very large site of Paquimé just south of the border in Chihuahua. Archaeologists have paid too little attention to these birds except to highlight the existence and possible importance of interactions between the peoples of Mesoamerica and the US Southwest and Mexican Northwest. This presentation focuses on recent detailed analyses of these birds and what we know about them as a result.
Protecting Greater Chaco ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-05-05 | The threat of oil and gas drilling continues to loom over Chaco Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancestral home to both the Pueblo and Navajo peoples. Tribal communities have fought for decades to protect the Greater Chaco Landscape and its cultural resources and safeguard the health of their families from nearby drilling. At the start of 2022, the Department of the Interior initiated a process to administratively withdraw roughly 351,000 acres of federal lands and minerals surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from future oil and gas leasing for a period of 20 years. Now, the Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on the withdrawal until May 6th, 2022. Archaeologist Paul Reed and leaders and representatives from the Acoma Pueblo, Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Santa Clara Pueblo, Tesuque Pueblo, and Zuni Pueblo, who are featured in this film, underscore the broad support for the Biden administration to #ProtectChaco by finalizing it's proposal to withdraw federal lands surrounding Chaco from oil and gas leasing.
A Rafter of Burials: Sapa’owingeh Turkey Interments ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-04-12 | On April 5, 2022, Rachel Burger (Logan Simpson) discussed “A Rafter of Burials: Sapa’owingeh Turkey Interments.” Rachel described a room at Sapa’owingeh pueblo that was dedicated to the disposal of turkey remains and shared what this room reveals about Tewa social institutions and practices at the village during the Classic period.
Birds, Feathers, and Ancient Pueblo Pottery ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-03-07 | On March 1, 2022, Kelley Hays-Gilpin (Northern Arizona University and Museum of Northern Arizona) discussed “Birds, Feathers, and Ancient Pueblo Pottery.” Since the beginning of Pueblo pottery traditions in the seventh century CE, potters have looked to birds as inspiration for vessel shapes and painted designs. In the 1400s, feathers became a favorite motif, and birds and feathers are still important subjects in Pueblo pottery today. In this talk, Kelley explored images and meanings on a wide variety of ancestral, historic, and contemporary pottery, focusing on the Hopi Mesas.
The Importance of Birds in Chaco Canyon ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-02-08 | On February 1, 2022, Katelyn Bishop (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) discussed “The Importance of Birds in Chaco Canyon.” Katelyn shared some of the findings and insights from an analysis of avifaunal remains from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Analysis reveals how birds were involved in people’s lives in Chaco Canyon and the many types of birds these people valued.
Ducks, Power, and the San Juan Basketmakers ArchaeologySouthwest 2022-01-10 | On January 4, 2022, Polly Schaafsma (Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology) discussed “Ducks, Power, and the San Juan Basketmakers.” In this talk, Polly addressed the duck as a symbol in Basketmaker II–III rock art, where it is represented as an independent element and on the heads of human figures in narrative scenes. ---Want to join us live? Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Archaeology Café season at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Turkey Feather Blankets in Ancestral Pueblo History ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-12-09 | On December 7, 2021, Bill Lipe (Professor Emeritus, Washington State University) and Mary Weahkee (New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies) discussed “Turkey Feather Blankets in Ancestral Pueblo History.” For over 1,600 years, a distinctive Southwestern domestic turkey furnished feathers for ritual uses and for making warm blankets. The birds also became a significant food source after about 1200 CE. Bill Lipe discussed archaeological evidence of the development of feather blankets and how they contributed to Ancestral Pueblo lives, and Mary Weahkee, the best known present-day replicator of turkey feather blankets, discussed some techniques used in making them.---Want to join us live? Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Archaeology Café season at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Turkeys in the Mimbres Valley ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-11-04 | On November 2, 2021, Sean Dolan (N3B Los Alamos) discussed “Turkeys in the Mimbres Valley.” Using pottery iconography, ancient mtDNA analysis, and stable carbon and nitrogen bone isotope analysis, Sean explored how people in the Mimbres Valley interacted with turkeys.---Want to join us live? Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Archaeology Café season at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Ancestral Pueblo Turkey Penning in Perspective ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-10-08 | On October 5, 2021, Cyler Conrad (Los Alamos National Laboratory and University of New Mexico) explored how archaeologists have identified and contextualized turkey pens in the Ancestral Pueblo archaeological record, what that means for understanding turkey management, and how conceptualizing turkey penning allows us to better understand the processes of turkey domestication and long-term human-turkey relationships.---Want to join us live? Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Archaeology Café season at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Komatke Trail Survey, Sonoran Desert National Monument ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-07-27 | Archaeology Southwest staff and volunteers locate and map segments of the Komatke Trail that pass through the Maricopa Mountains, in the Sonoran Desert National Monument, and into the Rainbow Valley.
Was Sells Red Pottery a Marker of Tohono O’odham Identity in Late Precontact Times? ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-05-11 | On May 4, 2021, President and CEO Bill Doelle and Samuel Fayuant (Tohono O’odham Nation) discussed “Was Sells Red Pottery a Marker of Tohono O’odham Identity in Late Precontact Times? Archaeological and Ethnographic Perspectives.”From Bill and Samuel:“Over the past eight months, we have been meeting to explore the significance of a distinctive redware pottery called Sells Red. The pottery was first named based on an excavation at Jackrabbit Ruin, a site that dated to the late 1200s through the early or mid-1400s.“Petrographer Mary Ownby studied the ceramic temper—material added to the clay to make it more elastic and less prone to cracking—from a series of sites where Sells Red was recovered. She noted that the temper was not a match for the sands in the vicinity of Jackrabbit. Instead, a geologic map prepared by Gordon Haxel indicated a distinctive rock zone near Baboquivari Peak, the sacred mountain of the Tohono O’odham.“We have discussed the geology with Haxel, Ownby, and regional pottery expert Jim Heidke, and we have visited many different sites where Sells Red is found. We also talked with interested Tohono O’odham elders and others to hear their perspectives on this pottery. We’ll share our process of discovery, our current thinking, and some of our unresolved questions.”For extended content related to their talk, visit: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/extended-content-was-sells-red-pottery-a-marker-of-tohono-oodham-identity-in-late-precontact-times----Want to join us live? Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Archaeology Café season at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Just What Is cyberSW? ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-04-12 | cyberSW Manager Joshua Watts shares insights and examples of the incredible potential of the newly released cyberSW platform in this Archaeology Café presentation, “Just What Is cyberSW? The Potential of Massive Databases for Future Preservation Archaeology Research.” To enjoy resources related to this café, including an extended Q&A, visit here: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/extended-content-just-what-is-cybersw--Want to join us live? View our current Archaeology Café season at archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Should We Stay or Should We Go? Farming and Climate Change, 1000–1450 CE ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-03-15 | In this Archaeology Café, Preservation Archaeologist and Field School Director Karen Schollmeyer and Scott Ingram (Colorado College) consider “Should We Stay or Should We Go? Farming and Climate Change, 1000–1450 CE.” Karen and Scott discuss ways farmers respond to climate changes, especially droughts, highlighting findings from their case studies in southwest New Mexico and central Arizona. To enjoy resources related to this café, including an extended Q&A, visit here: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/extended-content-should-we-stay-or-should-we-go-farming-and-climate-change-1000-1450-ce--Want to join us live? View our current Archaeology Café season at archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Preservation Archaeology’s Role in Responding to Archaeological Resource Crimes ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-02-09 | Preservation Archaeologist Stacy Ryan and Ranger/LE Liaison D.J. “Dusty” Whiting discuss “Preservation Archaeology’s Role in Responding to Archaeological Resource Crimes.” Stacy and D.J. explore the impact of looting and other resource crimes, as well as some of the ways they are currently combating this problem. To enjoy resources related to this café, including an extended Q&A, visit here: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/extended-content-preservation-archaeologys-role-in-responding-to-archaeological-resource-crimes/.--Want to join us live? View our current Archaeology Café season at archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
2020 Perspectives and Tools for Addressing Archaeological Resource Crime ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-02-08 | Learn about the approaches and actions of the BIA-ASW ARPA team in this special webinar. Eight accomplished panelists present on their work to eliminate archaeological resource crime from Indian Country. The goal is to bring participants up to date on new strategies and tactics for preventing, investigating, prosecuting, and remediating these crimes.
Act Now to Permanently Protect the Greater Chaco Landscape ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-01-25 | The threat of oil and gas drilling continues to loom over Chaco Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancestral home to both the Pueblo & Navajo peoples. Tribal communities have fought for decades to protect the Greater Chaco Landscape and its cultural resources and safeguard the health of their families from nearby drilling.The new administration has the opportunity to #ProtectChaco and the health of New Mexico’s tribal communities from oil and gas drilling. #nmpolLearn more here: archaeologysouthwest.org/2021/01/25/its-time-to-act-permanently
Archaeology Southwest’s Conservation Properties and their Emerging Roles in Preservation Archaeology ArchaeologySouthwest 2021-01-11 | On January 5, 2021, John R. Welch, Director of Archaeology Southwest’s Landscape and Site Protection Program, discussed “Protected Places: Archaeology Southwest’s Conservation Properties and Their Emerging Roles in Preservation Archaeology.” In this presentation, John gives a virtual tour of conservation properties protected by Archaeology Southwest and highlights their potential for cultural heritage stewardship and research. To enjoy resources related to this café, including an extended Q&A, visit here: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/extended-content-protected-places--Want to join us live? View our current Archaeology Café season at archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Beloved Things: Micaceous Bean Pots and Connections to the Hispanic New Mexican Homeland ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-12-03 | On December 1, 2020, Preservation Archaeologist Shannon Cowell and Kelly Jenks (New Mexico State University) discussed “Beloved Things: Micaceous Bean Pots and Connections to the Hispanic New Mexican Homeland.” In times of stress, we seek comfort and reaffirm identity through heirloom tools and methods. Shannon and Kelly present a case study on Hispanic women and heirloom bean pots. For resources related to this presentation, visit: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/extended-content-beloved-things-micaceous-bean-pots-and-connections-to-the-hispanic-new-mexican-homeland--Want to join us live? View our current Archaeology Café season at archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Irrigation Longevity and Social Change among the Lower Salt River Hohokam ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-11-12 | On November 10, 2020, Preservation Archaeology Postdoc Christopher Caseldine discussed “The Flow of Water and Time: Irrigation Longevity and Social Change among the Lower Salt River Hohokam.” Chris shared findings and insights from his recent dissertation research on these ancient irrigation systems. To enjoy resources related to this café, including an extended Q&A, visit here: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/extended-content-the-flow-of-water-and-time--Want to join us live? View our current Archaeology Café season at archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Safford, Ancient Arizona’s Forgotten Cosmopolitan Center ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-10-13 | On October 6, 2020, Preservation Archaeologist Jeffery Clark shared new insights into archaeology along the Gila River in this region of east-central Arizona.--Want to join us live? View our current Archaeology Café season at archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/.
Archaeology Southwest Hosts Chaco Roundtable with Rep. Haaland and Tribal Leaders ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-10-01 | On September 28, 2020, we hosted a virtual media event with United States Representative Debra Haaland (D-NM), Governor Brian D. Vallo (Pueblo of Acoma), Octavius Seowtewa (Pueblo of Zuni), and Paul Reed. Paul shared findings from his team’s recent pilot survey of sites in the 10-mile buffer zone around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The panel expressed that more information about Pueblo connections to the landscape is vital to understanding how best to protect it. This video was recorded using Zoom.Learn more about our efforts to protect the Greater Chaco Landscape here: archaeologysouthwest.org/projects/oil-development-and-the-chaco-cultural-landscape
How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part 7: Pressure Flaking ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-06-25 | Ancient Technologies expert Allen Denoyer brings Hands-On Archaeology directly to you. Although our Hands-On Archaeology classes are on hold, you can experience Allen’s knowledge and instruction through video. In this segment, Allen demonstrates the process of pressure flaking and adding a notch to projectile point. To learn more about how people made and used stone tools, download our fact sheet at: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/fact-sheets/how-did-people-make-flaked-stone-toolsThis video, in its entirety, is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to utilize it in any other way, please know that you do so at your own risk. The activity shown requires knowledge and skill in flintknapping.
What Do Geoarchaeologists Do? ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-06-23 | Welcome to (Un)Field School! Usually at this time of year, Archaeology Southwest’s blog features our Preservation Archaeology Field School students writing about their experiences. This summer, we’re bringing some of the experts they learn from directly to you.In this video, internationally recognized geoscientist Gary Huckleberry (University of Arizona) introduces the field of geoarchaeology.
How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part 6: Biface Thinning ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-06-18 | Ancient Technologies expert Allen Denoyer brings Hands-On Archaeology directly to you. Although our Hands-On Archaeology classes are on hold, you can experience Allen’s knowledge and instruction through video. In this segment, Allen demonstrates the process of thinning down a biface. To learn more about how people made and used stone tools, download our fact sheet at: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/fact-sheets/how-did-people-make-flaked-stone-toolsThis video, in its entirety, is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to utilize it in any other way, please know that you do so at your own risk. The activity shown requires knowledge and skill in flintknapping.
How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part 5: Heat-Treating Rock ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-06-11 | Ancient Technologies expert Allen Denoyer brings Hands-On Archaeology directly to you. Although our Hands-On Archaeology classes are on hold, you can experience Allen’s knowledge and instruction through video. In this segment, Allen shows how he heat-treats bifaces to make them easier to flake. To learn more about the heat-treating process, read Allen's blog post here: archaeologysouthwest.org/2016/09/23/how-to-heat-treat-rockThis video, in its entirety, is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to utilize it in any other way, please know that you do so at your own risk. The activity shown requires knowledge and skill in flintknapping.
How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part 4: Reduction ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-06-04 | Ancient Technologies expert Allen Denoyer brings Hands-On Archaeology directly to you. Although our Hands-On Archaeology classes are on hold, you can experience Allen’s knowledge and instruction through video. In this segment, Allen shows how he reduces a core into flakes that he will then make into tools.To learn more about how people made and used stone tools, download our fact sheet at: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/fact-sheets/how-did-people-make-flaked-stone-toolsThis video, in its entirety, is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to utilize it in any other way, please know that you do so at your own risk. The activity shown requires knowledge and skill in flintknapping.
How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part 3: All About Flakes ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-05-28 | How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part III. All About Flakes: The Good, the Bad, and the UglyAncient Technologies expert Allen Denoyer brings Hands-On Archaeology directly to you. Although our Hands-On Archaeology classes are on hold, you can experience Allen’s knowledge and instruction through video. In this segment, Allen discusses the different types of flakes you might create in the process of making a projectile point. To learn more about how people made and used stone tools, download our fact sheet at: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/fact-sheets/how-did-people-make-flaked-stone-toolsThis video, in its entirety, is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to utilize it in any other way, please know that you do so at your own risk. The activity shown requires knowledge and skill in flintknapping.
How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part 2: Flintknapping Tools ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-05-21 | Ancient Technologies expert Allen Denoyer brings Hands-On Archaeology directly to you. Although our Hands-On Archaeology classes are on hold, you can experience Allen’s knowledge and instruction through video. In this segment, Allen introduces the flintknapper's toolkit. To learn more about Archaeology Southwest's Hands-On Archaeology program, visit: archaeologysouthwest.org/hands-on-archaeologyTo learn more about how people made flintknapping tools, read Allen's "how to" blog post, here: archaeologysouthwest.org/2016/10/27/hands-on-archaeology-how-to-make-flintknapping-toolsThis video, in its entirety, is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to utilize it in any other way, please know that you do so at your own risk. The activity shown requires knowledge and skill in flintknapping.
How Did People Make and Use Stone Tools? Part 1: Introduction to Flintknapping ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-05-14 | Ancient Technologies expert Allen Denoyer brings Hands-On Archaeology directly to you. Although our Hands-On Archaeology classes are on hold, you can experience Allen’s knowledge and instruction through video. In this segment, Allen introduces the basics of flintknapping. To learn more about Archaeology Southwest's Hands-On Archaeology program, visit: archaeologysouthwest.org/hands-on-archaeologyTo learn more about how people made and used stone tools, download our fact sheet at: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/fact-sheets/how-did-people-make-flaked-stone-toolsThis video, in its entirety, is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to utilize it in any other way, please know that you do so at your own risk. The activity shown requires knowledge and skill in flintknapping.
A Tale of Two Cities: Casa Malpais, Kinishba, and the Elusive Promise of Archaeological Tourism ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-05-12 | John R. Welch with special guest Octavius Seowtewa take us on virtual tours of two of upland Arizona’s classic pueblos and earliest national historic landmarks, Casa Malpais and Kinishba. For extended content related to this presentation, including additional answers to your questions, visit: archaeologysouthwest.org/free-resources/cafe-extended/welch-cafe-followupView upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
Aztec, Salmon, and the Puebloan Heartland of the Middle San Juan ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-04-20 | Paul Reed kicks off our first-ever Archaeology Café served entirely online with his discussion of Aztec Ruins National Monument and Salmon Pueblo. Explore what makes these places special, discover what they tell us about life long ago, and plan your future outing—all from home. Enjoy additional answers and resources related to this talk, here: archaeologysouthwest.org/reed-cafe-followupView upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
You can help protect Greater Chaco. Paul Reed shares how. ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-03-27 | Paul Reed, Preservation Archaeologist with Archaeology Southwest, shares the latest threats to the Greater Chaco Landscape and what you can do to help. Tell the BLM to extend their period for public comments. Your voices deserve to be heard without risking public health. For details on how, visit: archaeologysouthwest.org/2020/03/27/call-to-action-write-letters-or-email-to-help-protect-chaco
What the Fossils of Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Can Tell Us about our Future. ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-03-19 | In this Archaeology Café presentation, Christa Sadler discusses Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in her talk, “Seeking the Future in the Past: What the Fossils of Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Can Tell Us about our Future.”Explore what makes this place special, discover what it tells us about life long ago, and learn how you can experience this significant place today.From Christa: “Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of the most special places on earth. There is a precious solitude and a silence that exist in this place unlike few others in the lower 48. And there are also important and unique paleontological, archeological, and biological resources, including world-class fossils that help us understand our history—and perhaps even our future. In 2017, the Trump administration eviscerated the monument by half, destroying protections for these scientific and educational resources. We are fighting to overturn this order and return monument protection to this singular place. “View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
Why You Should Experience Casa Grande Ruins National Monument ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-02-12 | On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, Kyle Woodson discussed Casa Grande National Monument. Explore what makes this place special, discover what it tells us about life long ago, and learn how you can experience this significant place today.From Kyle: “Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a sanctuary where you can still feel a connection with the past. The centerpiece is the four-story tall adobe “Great House” (Casa Grande) that was built in the early 1300s. It was set aside as the Nation’s first archaeological reserve in 1892, and became part of the National Park Service in 1918. Between 60,000 and 80,000 people visit the Monument annually, making it a top tourist attraction in Pinal County. For the Akimel O’odham and other descendant Native American tribes (such as the Hopi and Zuni), Casa Grande Ruins is a sacred place with deep spiritual meaning. It figures prominently in traditional oral histories and serves as a tangible reminder of distant ancestors. Few places in Arizona can match the combination of historical, archaeological, and cultural significance of Casa Grande Ruins.”---View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
Why Native American Voices Matter ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-01-23 | On December 1, 2019, Dr. Chip Colwell presented "Why Native American Voices Matter" for the Archaeology Southwest Tea and Archaeology series. In 2001, Chip Colwell began a Preservation Fellowship at Archaeology Southwest, and it changed the direction of his work and life. Chip sought to better understand archaeology’s role in the world and improve the discipline’s relationship with its many stakeholders, especially Native American communities. The wisdom of mentors, the experiences of fieldwork, the space to experiment—all supported Chip in his work to build new bridges with Native American cultural leaders and change the direction of the field. Since then, Chip has joined a vanguard of scholars and tradition keepers in showing how collaboration and inclusion benefit archaeology. This talk presents Chip’s journey.View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
The Bears Ears Water Project ArchaeologySouthwest 2020-01-23 | On Tuesday, January 7, 2020, R. E. Burrillo discussed Bears Ears in his talk, “The Bears Ears Water Project: What Environmental Chemistry Reveals about Agriculture and Landscape Archaeology in the Greater Cedar Mesa Area.”Explore what makes this place special, discover what it tells us about life long ago, and learn how you can experience this significant place today by making a visit to Newspaper Rock.From R. E.:“The Indian Creek corridor has been a thoroughfare and occasional habitation spot for different groups in the Bears Ears region for thousands of years. Archaic period foragers stopped by to hammer their images and symbols into the same patinated sandstone surface as the Basketmaker, Fremont, and Pueblo farmers that succeeded them. Historic Ute and Navajo petroglyphs also adorn the surface, attesting to these cultures’ antiquity in the area. And early Anglo ranchers and wranglers also added their signatures before the site was officially protected against modern vandalism.The story of Bears Ears as a whole is the story of a place that draws people from all over the place, sometimes acting as a cauldron in which whole new practices and lifeways were forged. Although the archaeological record can be subtle, hidden, and tricky to interpret at times, sites like Newspaper Rock give stark testimony to this variegated human history.”----View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
Why You Should Experience Pecos National Historical Park ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-12-30 | On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, Jeremy M. Moss discussed Pecos National Historical Park in his talk, “Going Down to the Crossroads: A Brief History of Pecos National Historical Park.” Explore what makes this place special, discover what it tells us about life long ago, and learn how you can experience this significant place today.From Jeremy: “Pecos is a very large Ancestral Pueblo and Spanish Colonial mission site located at a strategic location at the intersection of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Commanding a 360 degree view of the Pecos Valley, it sits at one of the major crossroads in history, and is an excellent place to learn about cultural developments in the northern Southwest. In my time at Pecos I’ve learned how geography influences cultural trajectories, and how the landscape truly shapes experience, memory, and history. Pecos is well known through the work of A.V. Kidder, who was instrumental in the early development of southwest archaeology. The Pueblo of Jemez has strong connections to Pecos as it is one of their ancestral sites, and the place is alive with their ancestors. The site is protected by the National Park Service as part of Pecos National Historical Park. The park preserves over 800 archaeological sites including remains of the Santa Fe Trail and the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass.”----View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
Seeking Common Ground on Public Lands: Voices and Views from Bears Ears Country ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-10-29 | In this Tea and Archaeology lecture, Rebecca Robinson and Stephen Strom discuss the many views and debates surrounding the future of Bears Ears. The battle over Bears Ears National Monument—the original designation, the reduction, the ensuing litigation—is rife with controversy. In this presentation, the fervor informing the battle is captured vividly in the voices who speak passionately about the importance of protecting Bears Ears, and those who thought their livelihoods and cultural connections to the land had been lost. Listening to these voices provides context for understanding the challenge of balancing the needs of residents living adjacent to public lands, tribes who trace their connection to these lands to time immemorial, and the American people whose charge it is to steward these lands for future generations.Rebecca Robinson and Stephen Strom are a grandfather-granddaughter team who have spent decades exploring the landscapes of Bears Ears country. Robinson is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Oregon. Strom is a photographer and retired astronomer.
Why You Should Experience the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-10-11 | On Tuesday, October 1, 2019, Dr. Aaron Wright discussed the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. Explore what makes this place special, discover what it tells us about life long ago, and learn how you can experience this significant place today.From Aaron: “Few places echo with as much historical resonance as the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. For me, that beckoning amplifies with each visit. Although this low outcrop is a bit off the beaten path, it hosts one of North America’s densest concentrations of petroglyphs. Most of these were authored by ancestors of today’s Piipaash, O’odham, and Yavapai communities. Thousands of people come here each year to experience the past in ways that defy description—and you should come, too. Currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an important place in the future Great Bend of the Gila National Monument.”View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
The Greater Gila River: Public Lands, Tribal Lands, and Our Connections to These Places ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-05-28 | In this Archaeology Cafe from May 7, 2019, Dr. Bill Doelle presents: "The Greater Gila River: Public Lands, Tribal Lands, and Our Connections to These Places."ABOUT THIS TALK:"Now home to nearly six million people, the Greater Gila River basin is tamed by dams and pumped such that stretches of its watercourses are usually dry. But it was not always this way. The river and its tributaries were once lifelines and travel corridors for diverse peoples of the southern Southwest. Tribal and public lands (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and others) make up much of the river basin today. Dr. Doelle will explore the relationships of modern groups, including today’s tribes, to these lands."----View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
The White Mountain Apache Experiment in Community-Based Site Protection ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-05-08 | In this Tea and Archaeology presentation from April 7, 2019, Dr. John Welch describes one possible model for establishing and reinforcing better protections for cultural heritage sites. With a doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Arizona, Dr. Welch has had a long career at the interface of archaeology, resource management, and community engagement, including services as the White Mountain Apache Tribe historic preservation officer and a founding member of the board of the Fort Apache Heritage Foundation in Arizona. Welch’s projects are recognized models for close collaboration with indigenous communities.
Mimbres Lives and Landscapes of Southwestern New Mexico ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-04-29 | In this Archaeology Café, Dr. Margaret Nelson presents, "Mimbres Lives and Landscapes of Southwestern New Mexico." ABOUT THIS TALK:"Over a thousand years ago, the people of the Mimbres Region in southwestern New Mexico were gathering in large villages and crafting the intricately painted distinctive black-and-white bowls we easily recognize today. But what do we know about these people? Dr. Nelson will share insights into the lives of these people, changes in their leadership and social structure over the years, and what their dramatic pottery designs might still tell us today."----Want to watch future Archaeology Cafés live and in real time? Join us at our upcoming events in Tucson and Phoenix (archaeologysouthwest.org/events), or join us on Facebook Live (facebook.com/ArchaeologySouthwest/).
Whats West of Phoenix: Patayan Archaeology of the Lower Gila River ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-03-19 | Dr. Aaron Wright, Preservation Archaeologist with Archaeology Southwest, presents "What's West of Phoenix: Patayan Archaeology of the Lower Gila River" in this Archaeology Café at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix, AZ. ABOUT THIS TALK:The Patayan tradition in southwestern Arizona is commonly dismissed as a mobile hunting-and-gathering lifestyle with little relevance to the Big Picture of Southwest history. This presentation shares recent archaeological and ethnohistoric research that counters this prevailing narrative, and restores Patayan as one of the four main cultural traditions of the indigenous Southwest.----Want to watch future Archaeology Cafés live and in real time? Join us at our upcoming events in Tucson and Phoenix (archaeologysouthwest.org/events), or join us on Facebook Live (facebook.com/ArchaeologySouthwest/).
Precontact Agriculture, Tucson versus Phoenix: It’s Not the Same! ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-02-13 | On February 5, 2019, Dr. Gary Huckleberry presented "Precontact Agriculture, Tucson versus Phoenix: It’s Not the Same!" About this talk: Archaeologists have found strong evidence for irrigation agriculture in both the Tucson and Phoenix areas, but the histories of the two areas are very different. Canal irrigation is known from a much earlier date in the Tucson region, while Phoenix ultimately became home to the most massive and complicated irrigation systems later in time. Dr. Huckleberry will compare the two regions and explore how environmental and technological differences resulted in the variations we see in the archaeological record.----Want to watch future Archaeology Cafés live and in real time? Join us at our upcoming events in Tucson and Phoenix (archaeologysouthwest.org/events), or join us on Facebook Live (facebook.com/ArchaeologySouthwest/).
Sonoran Desert Food and Lifeways, Past and Present ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-01-22 | In this Archaeology Café, Melissa Kruse-Peeples and Bernard Siquieros presented "Sonoran Desert Food and Lifeways, Past and Present:"The Sonoran Desert is definitely not a food desert, and has dozens of edible wild plants and ancient arid-adapted agricultural food crops. In this talk, Kruse-Peeples and Siquieros will provide an overview of the food history of the Sonoran Desert and ways you can enjoy many of the flavors of the desert today.----Want to watch future Archaeology Cafés live and in real time? Join us at our upcoming events in Tucson and Phoenix (archaeologysouthwest.org/events), or join us on Facebook Live (facebook.com/ArchaeologySouthwest/).
Painted Walls and Tree-Ring Dates in the Embattled Bears Ears Cultural Landscape ArchaeologySouthwest 2019-01-08 | In this Tea and Archaeology video, Benjamin A. Bellorado presents "Painted Walls and Tree-Ring Dates in the Embattled Bears Ears Cultural Landscape." In this talk, Benjamin Bellorado will present some results of the Cedar Mesa Building Murals Project, a five-year study of decorated buildings at Ancestral Pueblo cliff-dwellings in the southern Bears Ears area. Results indicate that, in the early A.D. 1200s, murals expressed important aspects of social identities related to community, political, and religious identities on local scales. Subsequent changes in mural styles reflect broader changes in the political and ritual systems of the larger region. The project was conducted through a partnership with the federal archaeologists at the Monticello Field Office of the BLM and with the University of Arizona School of Anthropology and the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research.
New Discoveries about the Cliff Dwellers of Central Arizona ArchaeologySouthwest 2018-12-19 | In this Archaeology Cafe, Dr. Todd Bostwick presented "New Discoveries about the Cliff Dwellers of Central Arizona: A Window into Pueblo Life 800 Years Ago in the Verde Valley." Recent analysis of more than 25,000 artifacts collected from a little-known cliff dwelling located north of Montezuma Castle National Monument has provided a wealth of new information about the Sinagua culture of central Arizona. These materials include well-preserved wooden artifacts, beautifully colored cotton textiles, and plant remains that are in such remarkable condition they look like they were left behind yesterday. Photographs of this rare collection of archaeological materials will be shown and what they tell us about the people who lived along the Verde River will be discussed.----View upcoming Archaeology Café presentations at: archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
Life Before AD 1500 on the Upper Gila River, Southwest New Mexico ArchaeologySouthwest 2018-11-20 | At the November 6, 2018 Archaeology Cafe, Dr. Karen Schollmeyer presented, "Life Before AD 1500 on the Upper Gila River, Southwest New Mexico."Residents of the upper reaches of the Gila River in southwest New Mexico found successful ways of farming, hunting, and living together for over a millennium. This talk explores some of these past ways of living, including periods in which people gathered into large villages or dispersed into less archaeologically visible communities. The unique archaeological record of this area allows us to examine the challenges and benefits of these different ways of living, and how farmers adapted to local conditions from the time of the earliest villages into the late 1400s.----Want to watch future Archaeology Cafés live and in real time? Join us at our upcoming events in Tucson and Phoenix (archaeologysouthwest.org/events), or join us on Facebook Live (facebook.com/ArchaeologySouthwest/).
