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Check in here for recent AAC news. members feel free to comment. Please contact AAC@AZarchaeology.org if you have a news post that you would like to submit.

  • 02/12/2020 11:10 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)

    February 11, 2020

    Mr. Chad F. Wolf

    Acting Secretary
    Department of Homeland Security
    2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

    Washington, D.C. 20528

     

    Dear Acting Secretary Wolf:

     

    The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the recent destruction of several places of great cultural and historic importance to Native American tribes in order to facilitate the construction of the border wall. We demand that all further building activity in the affected areas cease until a complete re-working of this phase of the project has taken place.

     

    SAA is an international organization that, since its founding in 1934, has been dedicated to the research about and interpretation and protection of the archaeological heritage of the Americas. With more than 7,000 members, SAA represents professional archaeologists in colleges and universities, museums, government agencies, and the private sector. SAA has members in all 50 states as well as many other nations around the world.

     

    In recent days, it has become apparent that the contractors who are working for the Department of Homeland Security in building the wall along the boundary of the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are proceeding with little or no concern for the archaeological and Native American cultural sites that lie in the path of the construction. Monument Hill, for example, is a place of great spiritual importance to several Native American tribes, and the burial place of Apache warriors. Nevertheless, builders are using explosives to level the ground.

     

    In addition, construction is adversely affecting Quitobaquito Springs, the only naturally occurring source of fresh water for miles in any direction. The oasis remains enormously important to the spiritual practices of the Tohono O'odham people, yet road expansion is threatening the physical integrity of the surface of the Springs, along with some burial places nearby. Use of the water for building materials is also diminishing the water table.

     

    These actions were carried out under the authority of the REAL ID Act of 2005, which allows for the waiver of compliance with important federal preservation statutes in order to speed up construction of the wall. Some of those laws include the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Protection Act, the Antiquities Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. SAA and other groups strongly opposed the REAL ID Act at the time, arguing that such a waiver would result in unnecessary damage to and destruction of irreplaceable natural and heritage resources. We are now seeing the results of that unwise decision by Congress.


    This terrible situation cannot be allowed to continue. In order to prevent further desecration and permanent damage to our shared cultural past, all further construction in the Organ Pipe National Monument must immediately cease, and not resume until 1) comprehensive cultural and environmental resources evaluations have taken place, 2) a plan to mitigate the damage to the sites is carried out, and 3) all impacted Native American Tribes have been meaningfully consulted.

    Sincerely,


    Joe E. Watkins, Ph.D., RPA
    President


  • 01/28/2020 22:07 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)

    The next Governors Archaeology Advisory Commission (GAAC) meeting is 2/14  at 10 am at the ADEQ building, 1110 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

  • 01/28/2020 11:21 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)

    There will be an AZSITE Regular Board Meeting 10 am, February 5th, 2020. Meeting will be held at Arizona State Museum in Tucson. To participate remotely http://arizona.zoom.us/j/467055344 or 1-669-900-6833 or 1-646-876-9923 Meeting ID 467 055 344. Topics include Advisory Committee update, AZSITE Fees Survey Results, backlog discussion, and Discussion of wider access to ASU Mercator (GIS direct) server.

    Agenda can be found here: http://azsite3.asurite.ad.asu.edu/Azsite/meetingMinutes/board_agenda/AZSITE_Agenda_02-05-2020.pdf. Also, draft minutes from last meeting can be found here: http://azsite3.asurite.ad.asu.edu/azsite/meetingMinutes/board_minutes/January2020Minutes_Draft.pdf


  • 01/06/2020 07:16 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)

    Hi all,

     

    We are excited to announce that the program for the upcoming Southwest Symposium Conference (January 30th -February 1st 2020) in Tempe, Arizona is available online here: 

    https://southwestsymposium.org/program/ 

     

    We have an exciting program lined up with three organized sessions, a forum, and posters covering a diverse range of topics, time periods, and regions across the U.S. Southwest and Mexican Northwest. Please help us spread the word. It would be especially helpful for those of you who have networks that include avocational archaeologists or volunteers to reach out to them. Reduced rate early registration is open until December 30th. Thank you to those of you who have already registered. Early registration helps us cut costs by allowing us to better estimate numbers for printing/bags/coffee/etc.

     

    We hope to see you there in January. Have a great week and a great New Year!

     

    Thanks,

     

    Matt Peeples, President of the Southwest Symposium Organization


  • 01/06/2020 07:14 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)
    Please vote for the positions of President and Member-at-Large for the upcoming 2020 year in the Members Access Only area.
  • 12/04/2019 10:25 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)

    ADOT has several positions available for qualified archaeologists in our Phoenix office - Historic Preservation Team Specialist - Environmental Project Manager and Historic Preservation Team Lead - Environmental Project Manager Senior. For more information see the www.azstatejobs.gov - search JOB ID 51323 (HPT Lead) and JOB ID 51796 (HPT Specialist) for specific details.   



  • 11/21/2019 09:29 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)

    •  

      The Arizona Archaeological Council is soliciting nominations for five Board positions for the 2020 calendar year. The following positions are open:

       

      President - Elect

       

      The following are the responsibilities of the President-Elect:

       

      • The President-Elect serves as a member of the Board and has the same duties and responsibilities of the other members
      • Understand the AAC by-laws
      • Follow Robert Rules of Order during each meeting
      • At the outset of their term the President Elect should review all duties of the President and be prepared to complete them.
      • Vote on resolutions of the AAC
      • Introduce or second motions of the board
      • Responsible with other Board members for approving all expenditures of the AAC. The President can authorize expenditures of up to $1,000 per year without Board approval if the expenditure(s) is (are) consistent with the mission and Bylaws of the AAC.
      • Can be asked to assist other board members on specific tasks or to serve on committees, as needed.
      • Attend and support AAC annual conference
    •  
    •  

      Treasurer

       

      The following are the responsibilities of the Treasurer:

       

      • Follow Robert’s Rules of Order during each meeting.
      • Understand the AAC bylaws
      • Keep accurate records of the AAC finances
      • Maintain membership rolls.
      • Coordinate adding President to credit union account. Be sure to bring the minutes that show the vote of the board.
      • Maintain and file the tax records for the AAC.
      • Provide full financial reports at each Board meeting and whenever requested.
      • In coordination with the President and Secretary insure that the AAC mailbox at the US Post Office is checked once a week.
      • Attend Board meetings and introduce and vote on motions.
      • Can be asked to assist other board members on specific tasks or to serve on committees, as needed.
      • Attend and support AAC annual conference.

       

      At-Large Board Members (2 positions):

       

      The following are the responsibilities of the At-Large Board Members:

       

      • Understand the AAC bylaws
      • Follow Robert’s Rules of Order during each meeting
      • The primary responsibility is voting on resolutions of the AAC
      • Introduce or second motions of the Board
      • Responsible for approving expenditures of the AAC. The President can authorize expenditures of up to $1,000 per year without Board approval if the expenditure(s) is (are) consistent with the mission and Bylaws of the AAC.
      • The Member-at-Large shall hold office for two years, maintain good standing and must attend AAC meetings to ensure a quorum.
      • Can be asked to assist other board members on specific tasks or to serve on committees, as needed.
      • Attend and support the AAC annual conference.
    •  

     

    The Treasurer and At-Large Board Members each serve for a two-year period. The President-Elect  will serve for one year in that position, one year as President, and one year as immediate Past President.

     

    Members in good standing interested in running for any of these positions can apply via email to aacboard@gmail.com. We will solicit requests to run until December 6th – and voting will take place in mid to late December.

     

    If you are interested, please provide a short bio blurb indicating why you are a good candidate for the AAC Board. Please send information to aacboard@gmail.com.

     


  • 10/08/2019 14:30 | AAC Board Admin (Administrator)

    Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd. (ACS) of Tempe is seeking to hire a field archaeologist for 8-10 weeks of work in Phoenix (so no per diem or lodging) on the Light Rail project starting October 21 with a mandatory meeting sometime the week prior. For more information, please click on the Employment tab in the second row of tabs on the ACS website: www.acstempe.com. If you’re interested in applying, please send your current resume with a cover letter and the names and phone numbers/e-mail addresses for three references who can comment on your archaeological experience to: acs_jobs’at’acstempe’dot’com (type it as a normal email address with an @ sign in place of ‘at’ and a period in place of ‘dot’). Please include Field Archaeologist in the subject line. No phone calls please. The position is open until October 31, 2019, or until filled, whichever is sooner.

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