2016 Arizona Archaeological Council Fall Conference

The Arizona Archaeological Council (AAC) is pleased to announce the 2016 AAC Fall Conference. The symposium will be held at the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa on Friday November 18, with a reception to follow afterwards on the rooftop.

Hoski Schaafsma will chair the morning session, and the theme is “The Archaeology of Queen Creek Drainage from the Phoenix Basin to Top of the World". Although extensive prehistoric and historic period settlements are present in this area, until recently comparatively little archaeological research had been focused on Queen Creek. Most of what is known about prehistoric and historic populations in south-central Arizona is based on work along the lower Salt and middle Gila Rivers, and papers presented in this session will compare and contrast the archaeology of the Queen Creek drainage from Top of the World on the east, to its confluence with the Gila River at Gila Crossing on the west. Despite the obscurity of the archaeology in this region, recent investigations have shown that Queen Creek was occupied consistently from the Archaic through the Historic Periods.

The theme of the afternoon session is “New Advances in Arizona Archaeology”. We invite archaeologists who have recent research they would like to share with the Arizona archaeological community to participate. The session will include reports on current excavation projects, as well as papers on recent developments in archaeological method and theory. The session will also include a panel discussion on site naming conventions that will be lead by Glenn Darrington.  

The AAC is inviting speakers to present papers for either session, and selected conference papers will be published in the peer reviewed AAC journal. Specific details for the conference agenda are forthcoming. Please direct any questions to AACBoard@gmail.com

It’s that time again to start again to start planning for the Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month – and the Archaeology Expo. Please join us as we begin planning for the Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month on Friday, September 16, 2016 at 10 am at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Building (behind the SHPO Evans house) at 1110 W. Washington Street in Phoenix. We will meet in Room 250, but please note that you will need sign in at the front desk to obtain a badge.

At this meeting, we will brainstorm on the “theme” for the month and take suggestions on potential poster designs. Bring your creative ideas and join us on Friday.

For our partners that are not within the Phoenix area, but still would like to participate, please email me separately, and I will provide you with a conference call number to participate via teleconference. Please feel free to forward the email to anyone you think would be interested.

This year’s Archaeology Expo will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Himdag Ki - The Tohono O’Odham’s Cultural Center and Museum in Topowa (south of Sells, Arizona) from 10 am to 4 pm. Any questions, please feel free to contact Kris Dobschuetz, SHPO Compliance Specialist at 602-542-7141 or kd2@azstateparks.gov.

Administrative Services Officer II

“Cultural Compliance Manager”

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION / HABITAT / PHOENIX BASED  

FLSA –Exempt

SALARY GRADE 21 ($39,983 - $71,563)

REQUISITION # 24042 / CLOSING DATE: 08/2/2016

Description of Duties: The Cultural Compliance Manager will be responsible for advising and facilitating the protection, preservation, and management of historic and archaeological resources for Arizona Game and Fish Department properties or activities. Responsibilities will include the following: ensuring Department projects are in compliance with all applicable State and Federal Historic Preservation and Antiquity laws and guidelines and acts as the cultural resource liaison with other state and federal agencies. This position will form partnerships related to ensuring the protection and preservation of cultural resources and develop programmatic agreements or other agreements to partner on compliance issues on private, state and federal lands. Additionally, this position will: provide information on sites that may be eligible for listing to the State Museum for inclusion in a statewide database, develop cultural awareness training and a cultural compliance program for the Department, supervise cultural compliance program staff, conduct cultural resource surveys necessary for implementing Department projects, prepare, plans, and reviews documentation including reports, use GIS and create databases for cultural resources and project management.

This position works in a team environment involving department staff, other State and Federal agencies, and outside contractors, and will be responsible for coordinating cultural compliance on any project that may impact cultural resources to assist the Department in carrying out its trust responsibilities in order to manage, conserve, and protect wildlife and fisheries resources, and safe and regulated watercraft and off-highway vehicle operations for the benefit of Arizona’s citizens. Performs other duties as needed, attends meetings, conferences and training sessions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The candidate must have knowledge of state and federal laws pertaining to historic preservation, archeology and cultural resource management; methods and techniques of sources of information for archaeology resources; principles and fundamental concepts and practices of cultural resources management; criteria that qualifies properties for the National Register; review and implementation of compliance regulations.  

The preferred candidate will have skills in: current scientific archaeological theory, methods and techniques in the identification, evaluation and preservation treatment of cultural resources, working with complex project proposals, technical reports, Federal and State regulations, legislation and guidelines. Must be skilled to interpret criteria for the National Register, handle negotiations, make decisions, and evaluate impacts, and archaeological preservation planning.  The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of supervisory experience and be able to work independently and as part of a team and be able to manage multiple project tasks simultaneously, analyze and prepare detailed cultural resource compliance reports and documentation including maps, images, and diagrams that will assist with agency planning and compliance. The candidate must be able to travel frequently statewide including overnight stays.

The preferred candidate will have a Master’s degree in archaeology, anthropology or closely related field and two years of professional experience in archaeology or cultural resources management and compliance or any combination of training and experience that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities may be substituted. Preference will be given to individuals with experience coordinating and ensuring compliance for a natural resource or land management agency.

Licenses and Certifications: Candidate must be able to obtain Arizona Antiquities Act permits and accompanying Repository Agreements, as issued through the Arizona State Museum (ASM), in addition to archaeological/cultural resource-use permits issued by various federal agencies throughout Arizona (e.g., Bureau of Land Management, USDA National Forests, Department of Defense Military Installations, etc.).

This position requires possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment.  Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.

All newly hired employees will be subject to the E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification program.  

The State of Arizona offers an outstanding comprehensive benefits package including:

* 13 days’ of vacation

* 12 sick days

* 10 paid holidays

* Participation in the nationally recognized Arizona State Retirement System

* Superior health care options

* Vision care, dental care, pharmacy benefits, and flexible spending account (options available)

* Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance options are available

* Many more benefit programs are available

Arizona State Government is an EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer

TO APPLY CLICK AZSTATEJOBS.GOV

CLICK SEARCH FOR JOBS, SELECT GAME AND FISH DEPT FROM AGENCY DROPDOWN

Direct link:  https://azstatejobs.azdoa.gov/ltmprod/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1GBH

Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission

Awards in Public Archaeology 2016

 Award:        Avocational Archaeologist

 Recipients:   Walter Gosart and Tom Woodall

 Nominator:  Peter Pilles, Jr., Forest Archaeologist, Coconino National Forest

Tom Woodall and Walter Gosart are inseparable friends who have made great contributions to all aspects of the Coconino National Forest’s Heritage Program for over 25 years.  Both participated in the Arizona Archaeological Society’s field school at Elden Pueblo, completed several AAS certification courses, and now provide many of the educational programs at Elden Pueblo, including participation at events like Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Appreciation Month and V Bar B Days celebrations.  They developed specialization in stabilization and practice and teach those skills, working at places like Homolovi and Honanki as well as Elden Pueblo, and stabilization needs assessment for Oak Creek Ruin.  They have become experts in prehistoric pottery identification in the Flagstaff area, and teach this as well.  They have conducted site surveys and updated site records.  Tom and Walter have dedicated many years of their lives to preserving, recording and understanding sites and artifacts, and sharing this knowledge and enthusiasm with members of the public and other archaeologists.

Recipients:   Fran Maiuri and Carl Evertsbusch

Nominator:  Robin Rutherfoord, Tucson Regional Coordinator

Fran Maiuri and Carl Evertsbusch, site stewards since 2011, have already made their mark in the Tucson area.  They have assisted land managers with site relocations and evaluations prior to sites being placed into the Region 6 inventory.  They are on crews that monitor over 90 sites in Pima County, 35 sites for the Forest Service and a number of sites on State Trust land.  Fran and Carl work at a large rock art site not on the inventory.  At Saguaro National Park, they monitor some of the most difficult and physically demanding archaeological sites to access in the park, requiring long strenuous days of off trail hiking to sites in the rugged Saguaro wilderness.  During a period of vandalism, they not only recorded and reported the events, they set out motion detecting cameras to monitor the sites.  The park archaeologist writes that “there are no words strong enough to describe the importance of the Site Steward Program to us here at Saguaro, and Fran and Carl are two of the most exceptional site stewards at the park.  Fran and Carl meet and exceed the seven goals of the Site Steward Program.”

Award:        Site Steward

Recipients:   Richard and Sandy Martynec

Nominator:  Adrianne Rankin, Barry M. Goldwater Range East

Richard and Sandy Martynec have been regional site steward coordinators for 20 years.  They have exceeded in this capacity, and have coordinated over 30 site stewards on the Barry M. Goldwater Range East, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and previously at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  They have learned site mapping and repeat photography, and have provided additional training to site stewards who wished to do more than monitor sites.  At a very large petroglyph site, they directed the mapping and recording, including point provenience mapping of all artifacts, extensive field recordation, and detailed recording of the petroglyphs.  They have been willing to assist all agencies in fulfilling Section 110 requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act.  They conducted obsidian analysis and determined that much of the obsidian at sites in the area came from the site of Los Sitios.  Rick and Sandy’s work has gone well beyond site monitoring duties.  The nominator summed up the Martynec’s contributions in this way:  “Julian Hayden would be smiling and toasting them with a shot of tequila.”

Award:        Private, Nonprofit Entity

Recipient:     Friends of the Forest, Cultural Resources Committee

Nominator:  Travis Bone, Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest

The Cultural Resources of the Friends of the Forest, Coconino National Forest, formed in 1994 in response to vandalism and graffiti in the Verde Valley, especially at Palatki and Honanki.  Since then the volunteers provide staffing at Palatki and V Bar B sites that allows them to be open year around.  Good works expanded over the years to include highly skilled and professional graffiti removal.  The group also took the initiative to digitize the Coconino National Forest’s collection of 15,000 transparencies and over 65,000 photographic prints, ultimately about 100,000 images, and creating a searchable database.  This led to the realization that there were gaps in the record, and a field crew was formed to visit 100 sites, 20 of which were not previously photographed, and discover and photograph 21 previously unknown sites, creating over 25,000 new images to add to the database.  The group also participates in Verde Valley Archaeology Discovery Days, during Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. 

Award:        Government Agency

Recipient:     City of Flagstaff Open Space Program

Nominator:  Karen Enyedy, Museum of Northern Arizona

Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve is 478 acres of land sheltering nearly 800 petroglyphs, Northern Sinagua habitation sites, and other culturally significant artifacts.  Picture Canyon was first explored professional by Harold and Mary-Russell Colton beginning in 1916.  In 2008, Picture Canyon was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  In 2012, the City of Flagstaff obtained Picture Canyon from State Trust land expressly to set it aside as designated open space for educational and recreational purposes.  The city of Flagstaff’s Open Space Program has worked with local partners to restore the natural and cultural integrity of the Preserve, host volunteer events, education the public about the importance of the area, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities.  Accomplishments include restoring the riparian habitat of the Rio de Flag, refurbish or decommission trails, roads and a bridge, launch a Site Steward program at the Preserve, install interpretive signs, provide guided tours, and offer recreational activities.  The award for Government Agency recognizes the City of Flagstaff’s Open Space Program for providing and supporting volunteer efforts, partnerships and public education programming to preserve the archaeological, historical, and natural resources at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve.

Award:        Special or Lifetime Achievement

Recipient:     David Abbott

Nominator:  Douglas Mitchell, Archaeological Consulting Services

Dave Abbott is a southwestern archaeologist whose focus is dedicated to modeling the exchange systems and social networks that composed the prehistoric Hohokam regional system, investigating the impact of large-scale irrigation on sociocultural evolution, and developing the unique contribution that ceramic research can make to the study of prehistoric communities.  This work has engaged multidisciplinary teams of graduate students, private sector archaeologists, geologists and chemists.  Dave has provided public service through board membership and participation with nonprofit organizations such as Old Pueblo Archaeology, Arizona Archaeology Council, Arizona Archaeological Society, Tempe Historical Society, Arizona Museum of Natural History, Deer Valley Rock Art Center, Pueblo Grande Museum, and Arizona State Museum.

Courtesy of Doug Mitchell:

"Dr. Abbott has had a profound effect on the archaeology of Arizona through his research, affiliation with museums and societies, and mentoring of students.  Currently an associate professor at Arizona State University, he has served on a variety of professional committees both in Arizona and nationally.  In addition to his role as a teaching and research professor, Dr. Abbott has provided public service through his board membership and associations with the non-profit Old Pueblo Archaeology, Arizona Archaeology Council, Arizona Archaeological Society, Tempe Historical Society, Arizona Museum of Natural History, Deer Valley Rock Art Center, Pueblo Grande Museum, and Arizona State Museum. 

 Since completing his doctoral studies in 1994, Dr. Abbott has designed and conducted a long-term research program focused on the ancient pottery of central and southern Arizona.  Abbott joined the ASU faculty in August 2004 following 10 years as an independent consultant and a research associate at the Arizona State Museum.

His work is dedicated to modeling the exchange and social networks that composed the prehistoric Hohokam regional system, investigating the impact of large-scale irrigation on sociocultural evolution and developing the unique contribution that ceramic research can make to the study of prehistoric communities. This work has engaged multidisciplinary teams of graduate student assistants, private-sector archaeologists, geologists and chemists.

Abbott’s unique blend of academic achievement and public service have allowed professionals and the public alike to better understand the importance of our prehistoric past in Arizona and the southwest."

Congratulations Dr. Abbott!

AZTEC is currently seeking resumes from qualified Lab Directors for our Arizona office. The role will be to manage the archaeological lab and staff.

Duties: Check-in artifact bags and review field forms for completenessDirect artifact processing and analysis

Overall organization and maintenance of lab (including field and lab equipment)

Perform quality assurance on work conducted by lab staff

Prepare databases to track artifacts during processing, analysis, and project closeout

Submit artifact samples for special analyses

Prepare and submit collections for curation

Write portions of archaeological reports

Coordinate with field supervisors and archaeologists regarding project resources

Working Conditions and Environment:

Will need the ability to establish rapport quickly with others working on the same project, and be able to promote a positive team environment. A working knowledge of dealing with a diverse population while using tact, diplomacy, and respect. Company Overview: AZTEC Engineering Group, Inc. (AZTEC) is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and provides diversified technical and consulting services to clients in the Unites States. AZTEC has offices in California, Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, and Texas. AZTEC is part of the TYPSA Group, a global consulting firm with offices in over 30 countries and a staff of over 2,000 professionals world-wide. AZTEC has a diverse culture that focuses on providing rich opportunities for its employees. AZTEC offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, short and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k)/Profit Sharing program. AZTEC is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to affirmative action planning.

Required Skills: B.A./B.S. in Anthropology or related field

3-5 years of experience in an archaeological lab

Experience with databases

Must be highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented

Familiarity with Microsoft software (Word, Powerpoint, Access, Excel)

Familiarity with standard archaeological field methods and repository requirements for ASM and other AZ museums

Experience in artifact analysis is preferred

Please respond by emailing your resume to jobs@aztec.us.

Please include “Lab Director” in the subject line.

Job Type: Employee

Job Status: Part-time/Non-Exempt

Contact Person: April Romero – Human Resources Manager

Email: jobs@aztec.us

PaleoWest is looking to fill a Project Director position based out of our Phoenix, Arizona office.  The candidate must possess an advanced degree in Anthropology or another applicable field.  The Project Director will oversee archaeological projects throughout Arizona and adjacent states.  This mid level salaried position offers advancement opportunities in a cutting edge, cultural resources firm, and provides health and leave-time benefits, as well as bonuses for productivity, performance, and academic publication. 

The successful candidate will be fit, resourceful, dedicated, organized, and possess outstanding writing skills. Our Project Directors need to be able to communicate deftly with clients, agencies, tribes, subordinates, and colleagues.  Candidates must have a minimum of 3 – 5 years prior experience supervising projects and field personnel with an eye towards efficiency, thoroughness, and client satisfaction.  The position requires the ability to prepare, plan, and execute logistically challenging fieldwork in a successful and independent manner.

The candidate must be able to complete technical reports with minimal supervision. Familiarity with the historic and prehistoric archaeology of the Southwest is required.  You must be a Registered Professional Archaeologist, or qualified to become one, upon hire. Please submit a current CV, a brief sample highlighting technical report writing abilities, and a brief letter of intent/personal statement to work@paleowest.com, with “Project Director – Phoenix” in the subject line.

www.paleowest.com

Tucson-Pima County 2016 Historic Preservation Awards - Call for Nominations

The Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission has opened nominations for its 2016 Historic Preservation Awards.  These awards recognize individuals, firms, groups, and/or organizations that have demonstrated their interest or contribution to the preservation, conservation, or interpretation of local history, architecture, or historic preservation in Tucson or Pima County. We invite you to participate in this program by submitting a nomination or nominations.

For more information, please refer to the 2016 Awards Program Description and Nomination Form, accessible at:  https://www.tucsonaz.gov/home/announcement/historic-preservation-awards-call-nominations

Nominations are due by noon on Friday, April 1, 2016.

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park will be hosting the 5th Annual Scitech Festival lecture series Fridays in February from noon to 1 pm! See details here: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaArchaeologicalCouncil/

To Our Members,

The AAC is now an affiliated society with the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA)! This means that the board of directors has passed a resolution to apply for affiliation, and the RPA has approved the AAC based on our bylaws and mission statement. This affiliation confirms that the AAC and its members agree to abide by the RPA Code of Conduct and Standards of Research Performance, which includes a statement on sexual harassment.

As part of this affiliation, all society members who meet the registration requirements of the Register of Professional Archaeologists for the first time, are eligible for an annual registration fee of $75. All society members who are already registered as unaffiliated registrants will be able to take advantage of the $75 annual fee in 2016. This is a savings of $50 from the normal registration rate!

More information can be found at the following links:

https://rpanet.site-ym.com/default.asp?page=CodesandStandards#Code%20of%20Conduct

http://rpanet.org/?page=AffiliatedSocInfo

Thanks!