Letters

Credit Where Credit Is Due I read with interest John Graves’s letter in the Spring issue, which questioned why the Texas Historical Commission did not credit Glen Evans for first discovering the Fort St. Louis site in “La Salle, La Belle, and the Lone Star State” (Fall 2000 issue).

In fact, Herbert Bolton is credited with first locating the site in the 1920s; however, he had no solid archaeological proof. Evans undertook excavations at the site in 1950 and Kathleen Gilmore worked there in the early 1970s, but the quantity of French artifacts recovered from the site was insufficient to prove its identity. The materials could have been obtained through trade between the Spanish and the French. The Texas Historical Commission’s 1996 recovery of the eight iron cannons, which were buried by the Spanish when they found the French fort in 1689, conclusively proved the site to be Fort St. Louis, corroborating what Bolton, Evans, and Gilmore had long argued. James Bruseth, Director, Archaeology Division, Texas Historical Commission, Austin, Texas

The Importance of Curation I am a longtime supporter of The Archaeological Conservancy and a regular reader of American Archaeology, and I want to thank you for the fine magazine.

As immediate past-president of the San Diego Archaeological Center, I am keenly aware of the need to educate the general public and agencies about the need to properly curate archaeological collections. I would like to suggest that, wherever possible and appropriate, your articles mention where site collections are curated in order to raise awareness that archaeology is not just about digging. I would also encourage you to consider including articles on the curation process and issues. The site protection process which the Conservancy so successfully accomplishes in effect provides in situ curation of unexcavated material for the benefit of future generations, and I wholeheartedly support that work! James Royle, Jr. San Diego, California

Deciphering Maya Hieroglyphs I was deeply intrigued by the Cancuen article in your Winter 20002001 issue. It is amazing how many new sites are being found in Central America. It was remarkable how Arthur Demarest was prompted to explore the site due to the translation of hieroglyphs at the Dos Pelas site.

I believe that deciphering more and more of the Maya hieroglyphs will reveal more secrets about the Maya’s disappearance. Have any of the archaeologists developed any theories on whether Cancuen was primarily a trade center or did it have strong ties with any other dynasties? Craig Southern Fayetteville, Arkansas

Editor’s Corner

The City of Tucson,Arizona is involved in a very ambitious undertaking. Our feature “A City Searches For Its Roots,” tells of Tucson’s Rio Nuevo Project,a downtown redevelopment of such broad scope that it’s expected to take 10 years and $320 million to complete.

One of the most striking aspects of the Rio Nuevo Project is its intention to connect the city’s future to its past.Archaeology is an important tool in establishing this connection.The Rio Nuevo Archaeological Project is revealing the city’s rich historic and prehistoric past,which stretches back several thousand years.It’s estimated that approximately $2 million of the project’s budget will be spent on archaeology.

It’s encouraging to see how successful the city has been in engaging the public in this archaeological project.Several thousand people have visited site and expressed their approval of the work.

The residents of Tucson are learning about their predecessors— the Early Agricultural people,the Hohokam,the Pima,the Spanish— and in the process they’re learning about themselves.

Michael Bawaya,Editor

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Why Save Archaeological Sites? The ancient people of North America left virtually no written records of their cultures. Clues that might someday solve the mysteries of prehistoric America are still missing, and when a ruin is destroyed by looters, or leveled for a shopping center, precious information is lost. By permanently preserving endangered ruins, we make sure they will be here for future generations to study and enjoy.

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American Archaeology (ISSN1093-8400) is published quarterly by The Archaeological Conservancy, 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 402, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517. Title registered U.S. Pat. and TM Office, © 2001 by TAC. Printed in the United States. Periodicals postage paid Albuquerque, NM, and additional mailing offices. Single copies are $3.95. A oneyear membership to the Conservancy is $25 and includes receipt of American Archaeology. Of the member’s dues, $6 is designated for a one-year magazine subscription. READERS: For new memberships, renewals, or change of address, write to The Archaeological Conservancy, 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 402, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517, or call (505) 2661540. For changes of address, include old and new addresses. Articles are published for educational purposes and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conservancy, its editorial board, or American Archaeology. Article proposals and artwork should be addressed to the editor. No responsibility assumed for unsolicited material. All articles receive expert review. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to American Archaeology, The Archaeological Conservancy, 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 402, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517; (505) 266-1540. All rights reserved. American Archaeology does not accept advertising from dealers in archaeological artifacts or antiquities.