SEARCHING FOR AN AZTEC KING • SUMMER TRAVEL SPECIAL • REDEFINING THE ADENA americanamerican archaeologyarchaeologySUMMER 2008 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 12 No. 2 Maintaining Ancient Ruins $3.95 AA Sum08 Front end.indd 1 5/13/08 9:04:25 PM AA Sum08 Front end.indd 2 5/13/08 9:04:43 PM american archaeologysummer 2008 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 12 No. 2 COVER FEATURE 27 SAVING RUINS FROM RUIN BY ANDREW LAWLER How do you keep ancient Southwest ruins intact? The National Park Service has been working to fi nd the answer. 12 IN SEARCH OF AN AZTEC KING BY JOHANNA TUCKMAN Archaeologists may be on the verge of uncovering a rare royal tomb in Mexico City. ROBERT JENSEN, MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK VERDE NATIONAL JENSEN, MESA ROBERT 20 REDEFINING THE ADENA BY PAULA NEELY Recent research is changing archaeologists’ defi nition of this remarkable prehistoric culture. 34 A DRIVING FORCE IN ARCHAEOLOGY BY BLAKE EDGAR The legendary Jimmy Griffi n made his many contributions outside of the trenches. 38 EXPLORING THE ANCIENT SOUTHWEST BY TIM VANDERPOOL JOHANNA TUCKMAN JOHANNA A tour of this region’s archaeological treasures makes for an unforgettable summer trip. 2 Lay of the Land 47 new acquisition 3 Letters PRESERVING A MAJOR COMMUNITY The Puzzle House Archaeological Community 5 Events could yield insights into prehistoric life in the 7 In the News Mesa Verde region. Oldest Biological Evidence of New World Humans? • Earliest Mesoamerican Cremations • Ancient Whaling COVER: Conservators Frank Matero (left) and 50 Field Notes Amila Ferron work in Kiva E at Long House in southwest Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park. 52 Reviews Photograph by Robert Jensen, Mesa Verde 54 Expeditions National Park. american archaeology 1 AA Sum08 Front end.indd 1 5/13/08 9:05:10 PM Lay of the Land Keep Ruins Accessible hen archaeologists excavate we examine the issues of public site a site in a national or other stabilization and the new ideas the Wtype of park, they must National Park Service and others are decide whether to leave it open for the using to deal with deteriorating ruins. general public to enjoy or to fi ll it in So far there is no clear answer. It’s trial Mark Michel, President to preserve the remaining archaeology. and error methodology that takes years DARREN POORE Backfi lling, as we call fi lling in old exca- to determine the success or failure of vations, is believed to be the most effec- each new technique. Something might of the nation’s archaeological sites are tive way to preserve standing walls and look promising in the short term, but open for the public to experience and other fragile features. But it also takes fail miserably after a number of years. enjoy. They do an invaluable service of away the opportunity for the public to And it’s expensive. educating the public and building sup- see and appreciate the ruins. But all of this work to stabilize port for archaeological preservation. Since the fi rst archaeological ruins for the general public is well Finding ways to stabilize the ruins so parks opened some 100 years ago, worth it, and the government agencies they can remain accessible is a small archaeologists and park managers have need to set aside funds to keep the price to pay to get the American public struggled with this dilemma. In this sites open. Too often park managers involved in our past. issue of American Archaeology (see go for the cheap and easy solution— “Saving Ruins From Ruin,” page 27), backfi lling ruins. Only a small fraction 2 summer • 2008 AA Sum08 Front end.indd 2 5/13/08 9:05:24 PM Letters CONTACT AND CONFLICT s DOCUMENTATION PROBLEMS s Wc[h_YWdWhY^W[ebe]o MOUNDS OF THE SOUTHEAST Wc[h_YWdWhY^W[ebe]oa quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Berkeley’s NAGPRA Process Vol. 12 No. 1 The Beginnings As the former archaeologist associ- of Agriculture ated with the NAGPRA Unit at the Editor’s Corner Hearst Museum of Anthropology, I was dismayed to read the one-sided News he archaeologist’s lexicon does article “UC Berkeley Reorganizes NAG- not include the word “certain.” PRA Process” in your Spring issue. TThe evidence on which inter- While approximately 40 percent pretations and hypotheses are based of the remains housed at the Hearst are is usually fragmentary, and the latest from the traditional territories of non- discovery can quickly render long-held federally recognized tribes, the current $3.95 assumptions false. For example, take the Adena, one NAGPRA law allows for the repatriation AA Sprg 08 front end.indd 1 of the more accomplished cultures 2/13/08 7:16:24 PM of remains to non-federally recognized of the Woodland period. Our feature tribes. UC Berkeley refuses to do this. C. Judson King, interim director of “Redefi ning the Adena” (see page 20) Another problem is the incomplete the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of explains how archaeologists’ concep- nature of the inventories fi led by UC Anthropology, replies: tion of these prehistoric people was Berkeley to the federal government. In Mr. Hall is incorrect in a number of his based on data from burial mound exca- a 2000 report to the vice-chancellor, it assertions. We check contentions of vations in the 1930s and ‘40s. According to this data, the Adena was noted that 48 percent of the inven- non-conforming inventory or incor- were an early mound-building people tories fi led had only a partial archival rect categorizations and are certainly who were capable of constructing review and an incomplete examination willing to make changes, if warranted. impressive earthworks because they of the associated artifacts. While it was We are also open to the possibility of were also advanced in other areas such believed that these inventories were requesting repatriation of remains to as sociopolitical organization and agri- only done for areas that were in the tribes that are not federally recognized. culture. It’s been said that the noted territory of non-federally recognized We continue to make special archaeologist William Webb, who was tribes, closer examination reveals this efforts to dialog with tribal leaders. involved in a number of these excava- tions and played a pivotal role in defi n- was not always the case. The Hearst Chancellor Robert Birgeneau has had a ing the Adena, claimed they were the Museum is reluctant to fi le corrected series of meetings with tribal stakehold- fi rst people to accomplish a variety inventories, particularly when it would ers, including the group with which Mr. of amazing feats ranging from mound- change the remains from culturally Hall has been associated. building to pottery-making to smoking. unidentifi able to culturally affi liated. Our goal is to make repatriation It’s thought that Webb, in some Due to UC Berkeley’s system, it’s user-friendly. Repatriation informa- instances, was given to hyperbole, but often a major undertaking for a tribe tion is posted on our Web site and most of his interpretations of the Adena held sway for decades. It wasn’t until to fi le a claim to change the culturally we are digitizing records to facilitate the 1980s that a number of archaeolo- unidentifi ed status of human remains. research. We also recently appointed gists who weren’t focusing on burial This is a serious issue and many Native a tribal outreach coordinator and a mounds began to uncover evidence American tribes are concerned about it. new repatriation coordinator, both of that contradicted some of Webb’s Mark Hall, Ph.D. whom are natives and interface regu- most fundamental assumptions. This El Cerrito, California larly with tribes. evidence had led to new defi nitions of these people. Because of the new evidence, some archaeologists, ironi- Sending Letters to American Archaeology cally, are certain that the name “Adena” is obsolete. American Archaeology welcomes your letters. Write to us at 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 902, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517, or send us e-mail at [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit and publish letters in the magazine’s Letters department as space permits. Please include your name, address, and telephone number with all correspondence, including e-mail messages. american archaeology 3 AA Sum08 Front end.indd 3 5/13/08 9:05:48 PM Welcome to the ArchAeologicAl conservAncy! 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 902 Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517 • (505) 266-1540 he Archaeological Conservancy www.americanarchaeology.org is the only national nonprofit Board of Directors organization that identifies, Gordon Wilson, New Mexico CHAIRMAN acquires, and preserves the Cecil F. Antone, Arizona • Carol Condie, New Mexico most significant archaeological Donald Craib, Virginia • Janet Creighton, Washington • Janet EtsHokin, Illinois sites in the United States. Jerry EtsHokin, Illinois • Jerry Golden, Colorado • W. James Judge, Colorado t Since its beginning in 1980, Jay T. Last, California • Dorinda Oliver, New York the Conservancy has preserved more Rosamond Stanton, Montana • Vincas Steponaitis, North Carolina than 360 sites across the nation, Dee Ann Story, Texas • Stewart L. Udall, New Mexico ranging in age from the earliest Conservancy Staff habitation sites in North America to Mark Michel, President • Tione Joseph, Business Manager a 19th-century frontier army post. Lorna Wolf, Membership Director • Sarah Tiberi, Special Projects Director We are building a national system of Shelley Smith, Membership Assistant • Melissa Montoya, Administrative Assistant archaeological preserves to ensure Caitlin Lanigan, Administrative Assistant • Patrick Leach, Administrative Assistant the survival of our irreplaceable cultural heritage. Regional Offices and Directors Jim Walker, Vice President, Southwest Region (505) 266-1540 Why Save Archaeological Sites? 5301 Central Avenue NE, #902 • Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108 The ancient people of North America Tamara Stewart, Projects Coordinator • Steve Koczan, Field Representative left virtually no written records of their Paul Gardner, Vice President, Midwest Region (614) 267-1100 cultures.