Thursday, July 12, 2007

The Archaeological Conservancy, Private Sector Archaeology Program

Since 1980, the Archaeological Conservancy has been acquiring and protecting significant archaeological resources around the United States and 24 of these are located in Arizona. The Conservancy's list of holdings in Arizona includes Atkeson, Sugarloaf, and Hatalacva pueblos, in the Verde Valley; Cresswell, Hooper Ranch, and Danson pueblos, in the Little Colorado River Valley; and the Trincheras at Los Morteros, in the Santa Cruz Valley.

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, Public Sector Archaeology Program

83 years ago, the City of Phoenix had the foresight to preserve and protect the archaeological features that are now part of Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park. Over the decades, this institution has become a premier destination for those seeking to learn more about the ancient inhabitants of southern Arizona. Pueblo Grande Museum's exhibits and public programming regularly draw more than 60,000 visitors per year.

Vernelda Grant, Tribal Program

Vernelda Grant is currently Tribal Archaeologist and Director of the tribe's Historic Preservation and Archaeology Department. Grant was responsible for having her program designated a Tribal Historic Preservation Office by the National Park Service, giving her the same responsibilities on the San Carlos Apache Reservation as the State Historic Preservation Officer has elsewhere.

Christopher Coder, Tribal Program

Chris Coder has been instrumental in identifying archaeological evidence of Yavapai and Apache occupations. He has also played a major role in successful repatriation negotiations with the Denver Art Museum. In the context of a larger project meant to restore the flow of Fossil Creek, Coder documented Apache campsites, farms, and traditional cultural properties. He also gathered important ethohistorical and ethnobotanical data on behalf of the Nation.

Terry Robbins and Kathy Robbins, Site Stewards

Terry and Kathy Robbins are responsible for monitoring human remains left in place within the StoneRidge development and also aid in the protection of the DeNoyelles site and other nearby resources. In the course of their duties, the Robbins discovered previously undocumented petroglyphs and reported them to the land manager.

Rich Davis, Site Steward

Rich Davis' monitoring has helped to protect many vulnerable archaeological resources near Ajo, including a number of previously unrecorded sites he discovered and reported to land managers. Rich has been instrumental in efforts to document resources in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, assisting in site recording and coauthoring a report published by AAS.

Jerome Ehrhardt, Avocational Archaeologist

Jerome Ehrhardt has been a tireless supporter of Coconino National Forest and Museum of Northern Arizona research projects. Ehrhardt has made major contributions to long-term research projects focused on Sacred Mountain, in the Beaver Creek drainage, and Honanki, northwest of Sedona. His work in the Perry Mesa region has included assisting in the surface collection of sites within the Agua Fria National Monument and "ground-truthing" hilltop sites located from the air.

Walter Duering, Avocational Archaeologist

Walter "Dutch" Duering has been involved in several Arizona Archaeological Society projects, including the excavations at the Calderwood Site. His volunteer efforts have included work with ASU archaeologists at AZ U:9:100(ASU), AZ U:9:101(ASU), and the Fitch site. Dutch assisted with excavations at the Mesa Grande site and helped to train archaeologists through the Mesa Community College field school.

William Doelle, Professional Archaeologist

Doelle is the owner of Desert Archaeology, Inc., a cultural resource management firm based in Tucson. He is also the founder and President of the Center for Desert Archaeology. The Center's many projects have included survey and test excavations in the Lower San Pedro Valley, work in support of National Heritage Area designations for the Santa Cruz and Little Colorado valleys, and a Preservation Fellowship program for doctoral students in archaeology.

SunCor Development Company, Private Sector Archaeology Program

SunCor Development Company, the builder responsible for the StoneRidge development in Prescott Valley, has preserved a portion of Fitzmaurice Pueblo, one of the largest 13th century pueblos in the region and has placed deed restrictions on parcels encompassing petroglyph sites, preventing any future development in these areas. SunCor also assisted the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the Hopi Tribe by providing a location for the reburial of human remains recovered during archaeological excavations in advance of construction.