Letters Delighted and Disappointed We were both delighted and surprised to find that a photograph of a petroglyph site in Sheep Canyon won first place in American Archaeology’s photo contest. We were delighted because Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake manages Sheep Canyon as part of the Coso Rock Art National Historic Landmark. The landmark contains several million petroglyphs on 90,000 acres located in the center of our secured military installation. The station goes out of its way to provide occasional access to some of the landmark’s more remote sites. But we were surprised that the petroglyphs in the photo were not identified as being on our station. We are proud of our stewardship and of our ability to allow occasional access to sites such as Sheep Canyon. Russell L. Kaldenberg Command Archaeologist Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California
It’s Not a Prehistoric Spear In the article on the KaplanHoover bison kill site in the Summer 2003 issue, one caption mentions “prehistoric spears called atlatls.” The atlatl was not the spear itself, but the spear thrower. Atlatls are basically a stick with a hook on the end which fits into the end of the dart. The added leverage of the atlatl allows a spear to be thrown much faster and farther than by hand alone, and they are very effective weapons. The World Atlatl Society (http://www.worldatlatl.org/) promotes modern atlatl sporting events all over the country, and many of us also find atlatls to be an excellent tool for teaching about prehistoric technology. Though they are fun and simple enough for anyone to make and use, the difficulty of mastering them inspires respect for prehistoric people. John Whittaker Department of Anthropology, Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION Publication Title: American Archaeology. 2. Publication No.: 1093-8400. 3. Date of Filing: September 29, 2003. 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly. 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 4. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $25.00. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: The Archaeological Conservancy, 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 902, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517. 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: same as No. 7. 9. Names and Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher—Mark Michel, address same as No. 7. Editor—Michael Bawaya, address same as No. 7. Managing Editor—N/A. 10. Owner: The Archaeological Conservancy, address same as No. 7. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months. 13. Publication Title: American Archaeology. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Spring 2003. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average Number of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: (A) Total No. Copies (net press run): 32,000; (B) Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies): 20,311; (2) Paid In-County Subscriptions (Include advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies): 0; (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: 4,831; (4) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 1,052. (C) Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15B (1), (2), (3), and (4)): 26,194; (D) Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, complimentary, and other free): (1) Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541: 0; (2) In-County as Stated on Form 3541: 0; (3) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 80; (E) Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): 700; (F) Total Free Distribution (Sum of 15D and 15E): 780; (G) Total Distribution (Sum of 15C and 15F): 26,974; (H) Copies not Distributed: 5,026; (I) Total (Sum of 15G and 15H): 32,000. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15C/15G x 100): 97.11%. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Number Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: (A) Total No. Copies (net press run): 31,500; (B) Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies): 19,085; (2) Paid InCounty Subscriptions (Include advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies): 0; (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: 3,374; (4) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 1,875. (C) Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15B (1), (2), (3), and (4)): 24,334; (D) Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, complimentary, and other free): (1) Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541: 0; (2) In-County as Stated on Form 3541: 0; (3) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 55; (E) Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): 750; (F) Total Free Distribution (Sum of 15D and 15E): 805; (G) Total Distribution (Sum of 15C and 15F): 25,139; (H) Copies not Distributed: 6,361; (I) Total (Sum of 15G and 15H): 31,500. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15C/15G x 100): 96.80%. 16. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the Winter 2003 issue of this publication. 17. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. Michael Bawaya, Editor.
american archaeology
Editor’s Corner
These days there is much talk of privatizing some federal government services in the United States. This talk is spurred by the presumption that privatizing some services could save taxpayers money. In this issue we examine the potential effects of the A-76 initiative, which could result in what the government refers to as the “outsourcing” of services. A-76 compares the cost of government functions vis-à-vis their cost in the private sector. If, in this comparison, the private sector appears to be able to perform these functions more cost-effectively, then private sector workers could be hired to replace government workers. A-76 is just beginning to make its impact felt in public archaeology, and some archaeologists are very concerned about its implications. A U.S. Congressman succinctly voiced one of the main complaints of a number of A-76’s critics: the initiative employs a “bean counter” approach to determine value. As this initiative extends across the length and breadth of the federal government, its ramifications go far beyond archaeology. This initiative raises questions as large as its reach: How do we measure value? Can we put a price on such things as cultural resources? Are we in fact a nation of bean counters?
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