Lay of the Land

Celebrating Number 500

This spring the Conservancy is celebrating the completion of its 500th acquisition project. Since our beginnings in 1980 with a staff of one full-time and two part-time employees in Santa Fe, New Mexico, we have grown into a truly national organization with archaeological preserves in 45 states.

In this issue of American Archaeology (see “Five Hundred And Counting,” page 39), we review some of the 500 acquisition projects and talk about what we need to do next. In 1980, archaeological sites on private lands in the United States were in grave danger from looting, agriculture, and development. That hasn’t completely changed, but thanks to the work of the Conservancy and others, there is now a national system of scientific preserves in place that protects many of the most important of these resources—sites that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and have longterm research potential. Others have become state and national parks.

In this country we have a very strong imperative to protect the rights of property owners. This makes it difficult, even impossible, to pass laws that protect sites on private lands as most other countries do. The Conservancy’s solution is to acquire the sites and manage them as permanent preserves according to the dictates of conservation archaeology.

Over the years, the Conservancy’s efforts have increased, reaching into more and more areas of our nation. We pledge to do everything we can to continue that record in the years to come.

Mark Michel, President

Johan Berge–Visitnorway.com

2016 CULTURAL EXPLORATIONS

CROW CANYON

ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER

DOMESTIC

May 1–7 Hidden Chaco

with Craig Childs

SCHOLARS: Susan Ryan, Ph.D. Craig Childs Will Tsosie (Navajo) May 9–16 Backcountry Archaeology:

Basketmaker to Pueblo

SCHOLARS: Mark Varien, Ph.D. Phil Geib, M.A. May 24–29 The Pueblo Revolt

SCHOLARS: Charles King Marit Munson, Ph.D. June 19–25 R. Carlos Nakai:

Music, Culture, and Craft

SCHOLAR: R. Carlos Nakai July 23–29 Taos History SCHOLARS: Porter Swentzell, M.A. (Santa Clara) Severin Fowles, Ph.D. September 19–24 Archaeology of Chaco & Mesa Verde Country SCHOLARS: Shanna Diederichs Lyle Balenquah, M.A. (Hopi) October 3–9 Zuni Origins SCHOLARS: Dan Simplicio (Zuni) Kim Spurr, M.A. October 16–22 The Navajo World SCHOLAR: Harry Walters (Navajo) November 1–7 Hohokam & O’Odham

SCHOLARS: Douglas Craig, Ph.D. Angela Garcia-Lewis (Akimel O’Odham, Gila River Indian Community) INTERNATIONAL

August 3–9 The Vikings in Iceland

SCHOLARS: Tim Kohler, Ph.D. Gísli Pálsson, Ph.D. candidate August 9–14 Icelandic Origins in Norway SCHOLARS: Tim Kohler, Ph.D. Gísli Pálsson, Ph.D. candidate December 3–11 The Yucatán Peninsula

SCHOLAR: Ed Barnhart, Ph.D.

SPECIAL OFFER

Bring a friend—and save!

crowcanyon.org/specialoffers