March Events Feature Archaelogy/Heritage Awareness

For the entire month of March 2015, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)/Arizona State Parks (ASP) is coordinating activities throughout the state for the 33rd annual celebration of Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month (AAHAM).

These events will focus on current efforts to preserve our past by protecting our fragile and non-renewable cultural resources. AAHAM combines education with entertainment to reach both adults and children in an effort to teach responsible stewardship of our cultural resources.

Museums, historical societies, tribes, agencies, parks and archaeology organizations will be hosting events across the state; events are also planned in Arizona State Parks as part of their interpretive programs.

Proclaimed by the Governor each year, this celebration will feature prehistoric and historic site tours, exhibits, hikes, open houses, lectures, demonstrations and other activities throughout Arizona.

A free statewide listing of these events and activities is now available by contacting the ASP offices at (602) 542-4174 or by visiting the ASP website at http://AZStateParks.com/archy (see list for your region below). To view the more detailed list of events visit http://AZStateParks.com/archy.

Central Arizona

Cave Creek, March 21, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Scavenger Hunt: Discover the Hidden Treasures of the Cave Creek Museum. Sponsored by the Cave Creek Museum. Search the dark corners and bright hallways in a challenging scavenger hunt. Follow the prehistoric and historic clues and unravel the mysteries of several artifacts on exhibit at the Cave Creek Museum. Appropriate for ages 6 to 11. Limited to 30 children. Adults must accompany the participant. Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E. Skyline Dr. Free. Contact: Evelyn Johnson, (480) 488-2764 or http://www.cavecreekmuseum.org.

Mesa, Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tours: Mesa Grande Cultural Park. Sponsored by the AzMNH. Self-guided tour of Mesa Grande Archaeological Park. Mesa Grande, 10th & Date St., a block west of Country Club Dr. on Brown Rd. (turns into Date St.). Admissions are $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-12. Groups of 10 or more who would like a guided tour with an archaeologist may call 480-644-3553 to book, or visit mesagranndeculturalparks.org for more information.

Mesa, March 28, 2-3 p.m.

Lecture Series: "Busting Myths -- Archaeology, Pseudoscience and the Media." Sponsored by the AzMNH. Dr. Jerry Howard, Curator of Anthropology, will speak about archaeology, pseudoscience and the media. Archaeology is a favorite topic in the media today, but how much of what you see is accurate? Come learn how to evaluate claims made in the popular media -- where does the truth lie? AzMNH, 3 N. Macdonald St. Regular entrance fees apply. Contact: Emily Early,(480) 644-5907 or emily.early@mesaaz.gov.

Phoenix Area

Deer Valley, March 21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Program: Archaeology Festival. Sponsored by the Arizona State University, Center for Archaeology and Society, Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve. Participate in interactive stations on archaeology and desert ecology, hands-on crafts for kids, ancient spear throwing demonstrations, a mock archaeology dig, and roasted agave tasting. Special guided tours of the petroglyph trail and musical performances will also be featured. Wear hiking shoes and hats. Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve, 3711 W. Deer Valley Rd. Free. CONTACT: ELIZABETH JEROLD, (623) 582-8007 or dvractours@gmail.com.

Phoenix, March 20, noon-1 p.m.

Lecture Series: The Science of Pottery - Archaeological Research and Modern Examples: "The Development and Evolution of Domestic Pottery in Arizona." Sponsored by the PGM Auxiliary. Speaker Chris Garraty will discuss the development of ceramic container technology for everyday domestic use in prehistoric southern and central Arizona. PGM, 4617 E. Washington St. Free. Contact: Laura Andrew, (602) 495-0901 or laura.andrew@phoenix.gov.

Phoenix, March 27, noon-1 p.m.

Lecture Series: The Science of Pottery - Archaeological Research and Modern Examples: "Ceramic Evidence of Prehistoric Long Distance Interactions - Intrusive Ceramics from Pueblo Grande." Sponsored by the PGM Auxiliary. Speakers Laurene Montero and Dr. Todd Bostwick will discuss ware distributions of intrusive ceramics identified at PGM during archaeological investigations from the 1930s to the present. PGM, 4617 E. Washington St. Free. Contact: Laura Andrew, (602) 495-0901 or laura.andrew@phoenix.gov.

Phoenix, March 27, 10-11 a.m.

Tour: Park of Four Waters. Sponsored by PGM. The prehistoric Hohokam were an agricultural society, using irrigation canals to grow corn, beans, squash, and cotton. The Park of Four Waters tour will take you through undeveloped, natural desert to the ruins of some of these canal systems. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring water. Appropriate for ages 13+ years. This is a first-come, first-serve tour. Space is limited. PGM, 4619 E. Washington St. Regular Park entrance fees apply. Contact: Laura Andrew, (602) 495-0901 or laura.andrew@phoenix.gov.

Wickenburg

Desert Caballeros Western Museum (DCWM), through March 31: (Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 pm and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m.)

Exhibit: Wickenburg's West: Adaptation/Reinvention/Transformation. Sponsored by the DCWM. Ongoing in the Quayle Family Gallery at DCWM, 21 N. Frontier St. Regular admission fees apply. Contact: Denise Maggs,(928) 684-2272, ext. 100 or http://www.westernmuseum.org.

For More Information

For more detailed information, contact either Kris Dobschuetz, SHPO Archaeological Compliance Specialist, at Arizona State Parks/SHPO (602) 542-7141 or by e-mail at kd2(at)azstateparks.gov or Ann Howard, Deputy SHPO, at Arizona State Parks/SHPO (602) 542-7138), or by e-mail at ahoward(at)azstateparks.gov.