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Manti LaSal National Forest, 599 W. Price River Driver,
Price UT 84501. 801-637-2817
Canyonlands National Park Box 813, Moab UT 84532. 801-259-3911
Utah Geological Survey,
PO Box 146100, 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84114. 801-537-3314
BLM Vermillion RA, 345 E Riverside Drive, St. George
UT 84770 801-673-4491 ext 266
Office of Trust Lands Administration, 675 E 500 S Suite 500, Salt Lake City,
UT 84102. 801-538-5100
Uinta Research, 6400 E. Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84108. 801-582-2900
Utah
Archaeology Editor: Kevin Jones
State Archaeologist, Division of State History, 300 Rio Grande, Salt Lake
City, UT 84101 801-533-3500
SUBMISSIONS
UPAC News welcomes all submissions by Utah archaeologists and others working in Utah in archaeology or related fields. Issues of relevance to UPAC News readers include ongoing research, education and preservation efforts, ARPA investigations, new hires, conferences and symposia, etc. Please submit to Jerry D. Spangler, 6400 E. Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108 (801-582-2900). Whenever possible, please submit in Word Perfect 5.1 format. The deadline for the winter issue is Jan. 15, 1997.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
President Clinton's decision to establish the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah prompted much debate and speculation on the long- and short-term effects on Southern Utah's rural economies and the government's future role in federal land management in Utah and the West. Will this decision affect Utah's archaeological resources? Quite simply, yes. However, the nature and scope of those effects are far from clear. What is clear is that the President's use of executive powers to establish the monument reiterate the precept of numerous pieces of federal legislation that federal lands and the resources and values they contain belong to the nation as a whole. This includes the study and preservation of Utah's archaeological heritage to which UPAC and its members have dedicated themselves.
At this early stage, it is difficult to predict the management emphases that will be established for the resources of the new monument. I've seen some reports suggesting that multiple uses will be continued and maintained. I've also seen some react with fear to speculations that such traditional uses will be prohibited if the monument is managed in the National Park concept. Either of these alternatives and their possible variations have the potential to affect archaeological resources.
What can UPAC play at this early stage? I believe UPAC can play a constructive role by encouraging planning that fully considers the long-range effects of this new designation. In particular, designation of nearly 2 million acres in southern Utah as a national monument seems to set up a scenario of "if you build, they will come." Consequently, recreation/tourist uses and visitation to archaeological sites can be expected to increase. Impacts associated with these uses can also be expected to increase. This is something that BLM probably could not anticipate in previous planning efforts.
A new round of planning can be anticipated. UPAC can assist this planning by framing and presenting archaeological management issues and opportunities for land managers that provide for adequate consideration of the research, public use and preservation values of archaeological resources in the monument. I fully expect UPAC members to have some strong and differing views on archaeological management alternatives for the monument. However, by finding common ground, UPAC can present a strong voice on behalf of Utah's professional archaeology community to promote effective conservation and management of the monument's archaeological resources. When new planning is initiated, UPAC needs to be prepared to offer its knowledge, expertise and professionalism to facilitate effective decisions governing the fate of the monument's archaeological heritage.
The second issue I want to touch on is that of recent road maintenance activities in southeastern Utah. In recent weeks, San Juan County conducted road maintenance on several apparent "user created" roads on public lands without considering potential effects to cultural resources. These actions appear to have been motivated by the county to resolve other politically contentious issues. However, the political motivation(s) of these actions should only be of tangential interest to UPAC.
What is of particular concern to UPAC is that road maintenance activities were undertaken on public lands at the direction of public officials with little or no consideration for the protection of cultural resources. In southeast Utah, where archaeological site densities are exceptionally high, the potential for damage to archaeological resources from such activities is particularly acute. Throughout Utah, we should be alarmed when the actions of public officials disregard Utah's archaeological heritage and place it at risk with potentially damaging or destructive consequences. UPAC will express its concerns to public officials in San Juan County, and encourage negotiations that provide for the adequate consideration and protection of archaeological resources.
Stan McDonald,
UPAC President
Manti-LaSal National Forest
CULTURAL RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEM (CRIS)
As many of you probably already know, the BLM has been looking for some time for a software package that can be used to store and manipulate the IMACS data in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. We began in August 1992 by having some of the more interested archaeologists from Utah and Idaho examine our data management needs by looking at a combination of things: 1) Our current needs and how the data base will be used in the future, 2) The state of the cultural resource data base that currently resides in various systems, 3) Other data base management systems (Oracle, dBase, rBase, Paradox and UNIX-based systems) and whether our needs would be served by adopting one of these systems, and 4) Contracting for data base management services versus our own ownership and maintenance of the system.
Our "user's group" went about compiling a rather lengthy list of criteria that the new cultural data base system would have to meet, and we began comparing existing products to that list. It didn't take long to eliminate just about everything on the market for one reason or another, and that left us with the rather expensive option of starting from scratch on a new custom package. About that time, we were introduced to the Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) that had been developed by the Cultural Resources Research Center, a branch of the Corp of Engineers.
After spending a couple of days with CRIS, we decided that this program was a good base from which to work. The early version of CRIS that the Corp was using did just about all of the things we wanted and met most of the needs identified by the group of IMACS users in the participating states. But it needed a few modifications and additions to make it suitable for general IMACS use. We then began work on an IMACS interface that would become part of the CRIS program. Over the years, tens of thousands of site records have been stored in various data bases. We have written a conversion program that successfully translates most of this data into the CRIS system.
When complete, the CRIS system will allow us to easily enter IMACS information, retrieve it, manipulate it, use it for research and analysis, planning documents, literature searches, etc. CRIS will have built-in IMACS capability, and it will also allow the user to create and design as many additional data bases as necessary to track inventory information, curation material, report information, etc. And, since the IMACS form changes from time to time, CRIS will have expansion and modification capabilities.
One of the big problems confronting us has been that the BLM maintains site data in one format, while private consultants, who probably account for the majority of sites recorded on public lands, submit data in another. When complete, CRIS will be public domain software, which means we can hand it out free of charge to all cultural resources consultants permitted to work in Utah (or other states as applicable) and have all site data submitted to us on a disk in CRIS so that it can be read directly into the system. We are also discussing the idea of an electronic bulletin board to do that. Several consultants, other agencies and the Utah SHPO have expressed an interest in CRIS. The latest CRIS contract (the first one died about two years ago) was awarded at the end of September and should be completed in about 60 days.
Craig Harmon
Richfield District
Bureau of Land Management
TRUST LANDS
The Office of School Trust Lands Administration has moved to 675 E. 500 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 (801-538-5100). Trust lands archaeologist Kenny Wintch can be called directly at 538-5168 (please do not send UPAC dues to this government address).
FALL UPAC MEETINGS AND BARBECUE
The semiannual UPAC meeting will be held November 8 and 9 at the Division of State History offices, Rio Grande Depot, Salt Lake City. A business session will begin at 1 p.m. Friday. Research papers will be presented Saturday morning beginning about 9 a.m. Agenda items should be directed to UPAC president Stan McDonald at 801-637-2817. If you have a research paper you would like to present in the Saturday session, contact Nancy Coularn, vice-president of membership and ethics, at 801-259-3911 ext-2134.
A UPAC chicken barbecue and beer social is scheduled for Friday night from about 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the residence of newsletter editor Jerry Spangler, 6400 E. Emigration Canyon Road, about 6.5 miles east of Hogle Zoo (see map [not included in web version of newsletter]). The chicken and beer are free of charge, although voluntary contributions to UPAC will be collected. And all participants should bring their favorite deli salad, chips, cheese, crackers, veggies, hors d'oeuvres, etc. If you are drinking something other than store-bought 3.2 beer, plan on bringing it yourself. Call Jerry at 801-582-2900 for more information on the social.
CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA
Society for American Archaeology: The 62nd annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology will be held ApriI2-6, 1997, in Nashville, Tennessee.
UPAC RENEWALS
UPAC membership rolls contain the names of more than 90 individuals whose membership has expired (in some cases many years ago). UPAC activities, which includes quarterly issues of UPAC News and the annual Utah Archaeology, are funded entirely from membership dues. In the past, those whose memberships have expired have continued to receive the UPAC News and notices of UPAC meetings and activities. In effect, members who have regularly paid their dues have subsidized those who have allowed their memberships to lapse. The current UPAC officers have decided to discontinue mailings to those who have made no attempt to maintain current membership. If you need to renew your membership, please send $25 and updated address information to Kenny Wintch, 5280 S. 2150 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84118 (801-538-5168). Students and associate members can renew for $12.50.
IN THE NEWS
Vandalism
A
prominent Blanding doctor and his wife have been formally charged in 7th
District Court in connection with the vandalism of an
Anasazi alcove
site near Bluff. James Redd and Jeanne Redd were charged with one count
each of desecration of human remains, a third-degree felony, and
trespassing on
School Trust Lands, a Class B misdemeanor. It is not clear why the couple
was not charged with violations of state laws protecting archaeological
resources.
The charges came after the Hopi Tribe formally protested the failure
of Utah authorities to file charges in the matter. "The Hopi Tribe
is dismayed at your apparent reluctance to bring these vandals to
justice," tribal
chairman Ferrell Secakuku wrote in a letter to Grand County Attorney
Bill Benge (Benge was given the case when San Juan County Attorney Craig
Hall declared
a conflict of interest). The investigation began when two hikers reported
seeing a group of individuals digging at the site north of Bluff.
A San Juan County
deputy was sent to the scene, but no arrests were made, apparently because
of confusion as to where a private property boundary was located in relation
to the excavation. A report prepared by BLM archaeologist Dale Davidson
described the incident as an "illegal excavation and... disinterment
of human remains at a prehistoric pueblo site." The vandalized
site was actually located on lands belonging to the Office of School
Trust Lands Administration.
Trust Lands archaeologist Kenny Wintch said the criminal case marks the
first attempt in Utah to use the desecration of human remains law
in connection with
an archaeological vandalism case. He also indicated the Office of Trust
Lands Administration is still considering civil charges in the matter.
Old Bones
A Sandy
man digging in his field got more than he bargained for: A visit from police
and then from state archaeologist Kevin Jones. The
land owner
was digging near 9000 South 900 West when he unearthed a human cranium.
Subsequent investigation by the State Medical Examiner revealed the skeletal
remains
were those of a prehistoric female 30 to 40 years of age. Jones later
examined the
site and found groundstone tools, lithic debitage and charcoal scattered
among a series of sand dunes. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of the skeleton
was
recovered, although amateurs had vandalized the site previously. "These
bones had been previously excavated in a haphazard manner," said
Medical Examiner Todd Grey. "There are a lot of broken bones...
and everyone tossed everything back in the pit and covered them up
again." The
discovery again raises the issue of private property rights versus
protection of Native American remains.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune.
ONGOING RESEARCH
The
Crystal Site
Alan D. Reed
Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
During the summer of 1995, Alpine Archaeological Consultants conducted excavations at the Crystal Site (42SA21063) in San Juan County, just southeast of Monticello, Utah. The work was performed for Rust Geotech, which is constructing a haul road for removal of mill tailings from the Monticello Mill Tailings Site. Excavation of 96 m2 yielded evidence of five archaeological components. A Paleoindian component is suggested by three lanceolate projectile points and a spurred scraper. The projectile points are similar to those characteristic of the Foothills-Mountain tradition. Limited data regarding Middle Archaic, Terminal Archaic, and Formative stage occupations were also recovered. The majority of recovered data were attributed to a Ute occupation, indicated by the presence of brown ware ceramics, Desert Side-notched and Cottonwood Triangular projectile points, and a radiocarbon determination which, when calibrated, points to a date between A.D. 1215 and 1405. The report is now on file at the Antiquities Section, or can be obtained by contacting Alpine at (970) 294-6761.
Shirttail Excavations
Rand
Greubel
Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
The report is in preparation for the excavation of four sites along Highway 191 near Shirttail Junction, south of Blanding, Utah, conducted by Alpine Archaeological Consultants for the Utah Department of Transportation during the summer of 1995. The sites were excavated under the supervision of Jim Firor (Project Director) and Rand Greubel (Field Supervisor). Alan D. Reed is the Principal Investigator. At the Milepost 43 site (42SA20977) a number of structures and features were investigated, including a two-chambered Basketmaker III pithouse; a small, round subterranean or semi-subterranean room; one, or possibly two, small vertical slab and jacal surface storage rooms; four slab-lined hearths; and three small pit features. Dendrochronology has established that the pithouse and subterranean room were constructed during the early A.D. 680s. At the Corral Canyon Village (42SA7659), two pithouses, a kiva, and several other features of the Pueblo II period were excavated. Both pithouses are square. One is large and deep, with a narrow bench and a small storage room incorporated into the vent system. The kiva is large and unlined, with an earthen bench and eight masonry pilasters. Also excavated was a sub-rectangular, semi-subterranean mealing room with masonry upper walls and a floor excavated more than 60 cm below the prehistoric ground surface. The structure was built over a deep bell-shaped storage pit that was abandoned and filled in prior to the construction of the mealing room. A shallow surface structure and a large, extramural hearth were investigated as well. Good dendrochronological dates were obtained from burned juniper posts from the pit structures, which yielded cutting dates ranging from A.D. 1042 to 1054. The Happy Salamander site (42SA7660) is a small unit pueblo of the Pueblo III period. A masonry-lined kiva; a small, semi-subterranean masonry room block; and a 9 m-Iong, curvilinear jacal wall with attached ramada were excavated. A number of pit and hearth features were found in the plaza area, and the midden was sample excavated to 10%. Dendrochronology was not successfully employed at the site, but radiocarbon and archaeomagnetic dates suggest that the site was occupied between A.D. 1175-1300, a date range that accords with the ceramic data. At the Feedlot site (42SA7657), several suspected slab cist features were investigated. The features were found to be hopelessly impacted by cattle trampling or other historic disturbances, but blading of the site surface resulted in the discovery of a relatively intact hearth that produced a radiocarbon date with a calibrated calendrical range (at two sigma) of A.D. 380-645. Little else was found at the Feedlot site. The final report for the Shirttail project is expected to be completed by May 1997.
PUBLICATIONS OF LOCAL INTEREST
Allison, James
R.
1996 Comments on the Impacts of Climatic Variability and Population Growth
on Virgin Anasazi Cultural Development. American Antiquity 61(2):414-418.
Report by Allison (Orem, UT) argues that Virgin Anasazi populations probably did not grow or decline as rapidly as suggested by other researchers. Further, radiocarbon dates suggest that the Virgin Anasazi occupied the area until late in the l3th century.
Woodward, Scott
1996 Genealogy
of New Kingdom Pharaohs and Queens. Archaeology 49(5):45-47.
Woodward (BYU) offers a brief overview of royal Egyptian lineages and current DNA research at BYU. Other articles in the same issue offer succinct overviews of various DNA research (human, plant and animal) throughout the New World and elsewhere that are more relevant to Utah archaeologists.
Greubel, Rand
1996 1-70 Castle Valley to Rattlesnake Bench Final Report. Alpine
Archaeological Consultants Inc., Montrose, Colorado.
The final report for the I -70 Castle Valley to Rattlesnake Bench data recovery project, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh in 1988-89 in Emery and Sevier Counties, has been completed. The report is in two volumes. The first is a stand-alone document detailing the results of data recovery on eleven sites. The second volume comprises the appendices, and includes geology and geomorphology, pollen and macrobotanical results, faunal studies, blood residue results, lithic replication experiments, and the results of other ancillary studies. The results of the studies detailed in the second volume are summarized in the first. Copies of the report are available for the cost of printing from Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc., P.O. Box 2075, Montrose, CO 81402, (970) 249-6761, e-mail alparch@rrni.net. Volume 1 is $33, Volume 2 is $30, plus postage.
MINUTES:
UPAC
Business
Meeting, April 25, 1996
President Bill Davis opened the meeting at 9:30 a.m. and introduced new UPAC officers. USAS and UPAC members present: 34. Treasurer's report by Kenny Wintch stated we have a balance of $5225. Dues for 1996 are due. Kenny will make a concerted effort to let people know when their dues are due. David Madsen suggested a letter to inform those individuals whose membership lapsed several years ago. Kenny suggested a postcard.
State lands issues: sale of lands. Kevin Carter, Deputy Director of State Trust Lands, briefly discussed the history of Trust Lands management. Utah received four sections per township at statehood, all lands dedicated for the use of education. Thirteen different educational land grants were given Utah at statehood. However, thousands of acres we!e immediately sold (VU, VSV, etc.). States have not been traditionally good trustees. As time went on, Congress put more restrictions on the lands, specifying that the lands were not public lands, but were to be managed almost exclusively for the beneficiaries of the trust. Two things have worked against State Trust Lands: I) The mandate to generate income means some types of uses not always land-friendly have to be examined. If it is an income-generating use then they must consider it. 2) Lands are scattered across the state and they are not always harmonious with neighbors. Their beneficiaries are very active and they are always monitoring State Trust Lands.
For all intents
and purposes, since statehood some 5,000 sections across the state have been
on the market. About 7 million acres were given at
statehood. Focus has shifted away from large land sales to smaller
parcels. The majority
of land sales are within urban areas, such as Cedar City and St. George,
and
past action has been reactive only. They are now moving to more of
a seller-driven approach.
This property (the land on which the meeting is being held) represents
the contentious relationship with archaeologists in the past. State
Trust Lands
does not want a contentious relationship, but they have two sides to
view. One is that they should be exploiting resources and the other is
that they
should not. They have to walk a middle ground. Cultural resources and
the land on which those resources are located are a valuable commodity
, and
Trust Lands
should capitalize on them. Indian Camp in Southwestern Colorado is
an example of what Utah Trust Lands officials are looking to emulate. They
look for
a market of people who want to enjoy the cultural resources on their
land and
to learn from them. They look for people to do the research, as well
as preserve them. They thought it looked like a good middle of the road
approach
(for
marketing Utah properties). It was a reasonable person's test of how
to manage these
resources by looking at these resources and preserving the information.
There was an application to purchase this property (about 85 acres) 4 to 5 years ago and SHPO consultation resulted in a survey of the parcel and sites were found. An adjacent landowner wanted to purchase 35 acres of it because he was already farming it in trespass. So they sold this parcel. The remainder of the parcel is to be divided into 6 to 10 acre parcels. Lots with sites will be marketed to those who want to research the site, but there will be a prohibition against the sale of artifacts found on those sites. Deed restrictions will be included with the sale of this property to provide protection for these sites. The intention is to try this on two parcels with deed restrictions where the sites on these parcels will be protected, not excavated. They visualize that the entire area will be a landowner's association. If the landowners of the sites want to excavate them, then they will need permits and research designs. Ownership does not give the right to excavate it themselves.
Sites on this parcel include a large seasonal campsite (Late Archaic) with burned remains of a wickiup structure (dates ranging from 500 E.C. to A.D. 50) and small slab-Iined cists dating to the same time period. The other site is a smaller Fremont site with a couple of different occupations with structures and outlying hearths (A.D. 1050 to 1200). A question was raised about monitoring compliance with the deed restrictions. State Trust Lands is still working with attorneys regarding the restrictions. He welcomes input from archaeologists. This is a test case for State Trust Lands. No consultation with Native Americans has occurred. They are sincere in wanting to make this work and to protect these sites. They will draft a letter to UPAC asking for comments.
Nancy Coulam initiated a discussion on the recent National Geographic article on the Anasazi. The article includes everything not to do on archaeology sites. Photos include rappelling into sites, which is against regulations in Grand Gulch. The results have been four times the usual visitation in Grand Gulch. It is a non-preservation oriented article, and the BLM is writing to National Geographic in protest (the BLM had asked for the right to review the article before it went to press). The BLM would like more letters sent to National Geographic. Nancy requested a letter from UPAC. She also requested UPAC give a contribution to the Friends of Grand Gulch.
Stan McDonald mentioned the previous UPAC joint meeting was with the Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists. Do we want to do this again? The suggestion was made to meet with Nevada professionals and amateurs for the next UPAC spring meeting. A proposal was also made for a Four Corners meeting in the future.
A discussion was initiated as to how to increase UPAC membership, especially student memberships. We could add a Saturday research symposium to the UPAC meeting and offer a small prize for a student paper (a $150 to $200 cash prize would entice students to participate). The motion was made, but a discussion ensued that money was not the answer. Just invite the professors using students to present a symposium and award the best paper by publishing it in Utah Archaeology. The better meetings have been those with a particular topic in mind. Stan McDonald said we should keep the spring meeting informal and Pecos-like, and make the fall meeting the symposium one. We also might do a survey to find out why the membership is stagnant. Motion was made to begin the student paper presentations at the fall meeting, give a $100 prize for the best and publish it in the Utah Archaeology. A motion was made to amend it so that they have to be UPAC members.
It was suggested that we informally talk to people about membership rather than a survey. A flyer was suggested to be sent to universities. The back page in the journal might be used as a membership application. Motion seconded and approved to give a $100 prize at the fall meeting.
Dave Madsen discussed governmental affairs issues. A box-car bill (a bill with a title, but no content) is a mechanism used to have an interim legislative committee examine a particular issue. Such a box car bill has been submitted by paleontological community, which is concerned that State Trust Lands will sell fossils. A Utah Raptors working group may evolve into an interim state committee, based on a meeting two weeks ago during last session of the Legislature. Essentially, the effort is mostly paleontological, but the archaeological community want to ride along. The paleontologists want to preclude the sale of fossils (much the same as archaeologists want to preclude the sale of artifacts). This is a perfect opportunity to present any revision to state laws (let Stan McDonald or David Madsen know of any proposed changes).
Diana Christensen initiated a discussion on archaeologists
throughout the state working with local governments and
land trust organizations
(Virgin River Land Trust and Utah Open Lands in Park
City) so that local ordinances can be passed to protect archaeological
sites on private lands. The best means of doing this
is
to become
aware of the issues and potential losses of archaeological
resources in your local community. Land Trust organizations
are logical
partners in protecting archaeological sites. They are
working to preserve open lands in the state and can use archaeologists
to tell them where the endangered sites are located.
The
individuals in these land trusts are knowledgeable about
approaching landowners
and in the different ways in which the sites can be preserved
(conservation easements, etc.). We, as archaeologists,
should be relying on their expertise to help us preserve
sites on
public lands. Various eastern states have found success
in funding state
programs to identify and protect archaeological and historical
sites. Utah might profit by looking ahead before all
of the best archaeological sites on private land are destroyed.
A motion
was made to consider this at the fall meeting, seconded
and
passed.
Dennis Weder, as a member of the Native American Committee, stressed that face-to-face meetings with Native American groups are the best possible scenario, and that archaeologists should not rely on written communication. Dennis also mentioned (at the request of Brook Arkush) that the Reburial Committee hasn't met in three months. There are no pending cases. The rules for the new Native American Burial Law that were published in the last UPAC Newsletter were accepted and are now official.
Kevin Jones added that the state burial vault has been constructed and is complete. A contract for individual caskets was let to the Northwestern Shoshone and these will be done in the next two to three years. The vault will then be ready to receive Native American remains.
Steve Simms made a motion to add money to this committee, and he added that the spirit of the law has been lost. He suggests we pay some members per diem so that UPAC has direct relationship with the tribes. Steve suggested having regional representatives from UPAC to do the face-to-face relationships with the tribes. Archaeologists are too often seen as the bad guys in this situation. Does UPAC want to invest in combating this negative image? Steve will work with Dennis to identify people to work on regional committees for face-to-face relationship with tribes. They should be reimbursed at least for gas money ($1,000 was suggested for this). Our goal should be to get some collective action. Steve will bring a proposal to the fall meeting.
Rene Weder mentioned that the automated Antiquities Site records Web home page is available. It has the Historical Society Events and all scheduling for Archaeology Week. Soon an Antiquities Permit application form will be available which can be sent by E-Mail to State History. Permitting rules will be listed.
Bill Lattade of Anasazi State Park asked UPAC to write a letter to State Parks asking for review of exhibits and concepts before they are implemented. Right now State Parks relies on an informal review process, They should also allow lJtal1 Museums Association to review them. Motion carried.
As to Utah Archaeology, Kevin Jones stated the 1995 galleys are ready to go to the editor in the next few weeks. A Few articles are ready for the 1996 issue. He encourages more issues. The account has $3,000.00 and is building by taking all, subscribers at full rate, sales to bookstores, museums, etc. These funds have helped to subsidize the cost so that it is low For all UPAC/USAS members. The cost will probably be $5 per issue for the 1995 volume. Kevin would like to retire as editor after 1996 issue but will stay to maintain the accounts. Steve Simms expressed an interest in taking over as editor.
David Schmitt proposed that one UPAC Newsletter per year should be a joint UP AC/USAS newsletter. USAS still feels under utilized by the professionals all around the state. Many individuals and chapters are willing to help on projects. USAS may kick in to help pay for the mailing costs to USAS members. Perhaps the Spring newsletter might be used to get the communications lines open again between the professionals and amateurs.
Diana Christensen and Corinne Springer discussed the revision on the USAS Certification Course. Ideas include videotaping courses so they can be viewed across the state and a passport to have all courses and workshops listed for the USAS members participating. Nancy Coulam mentioned doing something similar to Colorado or Arizona. The Colorado program's goal is to survey state lands. We need more specific objectives or goals, also. Kevin Jones suggested going to the state Legislature to get money to redo the program and to pay for the videos. Dave Schmitt said that most USAS members want the workshops to be hands on. He was afraid we might be sending the wrong message to the amateurs because they only want the "fun" stuff. We need to get the message across about all the work involved in archaeological research. Bottom line is we need to ask what the certification course will accomplish. Stan McDonald suggested forming a small committee to recommend a program and changes. UPAC members should offer our assistance to USAS for this committee. Motion carried. Pam Miller, Kenny Wintch and Diana Christensen volunteered to be on the committee to help USAS propose changes in the certification program,
Barbara Frank mentioned a worst case scenario in which an individual who had gone through the certification course is now working on a site on private land and has bought and taken pieces of private collections. The individual concerned is not a member of UPAC, SOPA or SAA and therefore has not signed a code of ethics. He is representing himself as a professional archaeologist. She recommended a letter to Southern Utah University to mention UPAC's concern about these issues. The letter might be worded in a positive way mentioning UPAC's concern with a program at SUU to restore a positive presence in the community. UPAC could strongly support initiatives to reestablish the program at SUU. Barbara will draft a positive, proactive letter recommending reestablishment of the Anthropology Department at SUU with qualified people in charge.
Kenny Wintch, State Trust Lands, stated that they have a short list for contractors and are using a phone-bids system. A solicitation went out a few months ago and the short list was the result. Anyone not in the system who wants to be can still get in, if they want.
State Trust Lands is working with Bill Davis and the Southwest Heritage Foundation on the Pueblo I site in Bluff. They plan to do a long term preservation plan on the site between State Trust Lands and two private land owners. Interpretive experience is the goal, not excavation. Anyone with questions on this project should contact Kenny.
Kenny Wintch also asked for help in urging the prosecuting attorney to proceed with prosecution on a looting case. A local prominent individual was caught red-handed looting a site on Trust Lands near private land. His fear is that the county will not prosecute. Cases on State Trust Lands must be prosecuted by local county authorities. The San Juan County Attorney had a conflict of interest in this case and so it was sent to the Grand County Attorney. State Trust Lands want it prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. They also have civil options they may pursue. Kenny will write a letter from UPAC to the county attorney urging prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
Lee Kreutzer of Capitol Reef National Park led a discussion on the field trips tomorrow to look at various rock art sites in the park. Kenny also agreed to lead a field trip to the local sites and the sites on this parcel proposed for development.
Diana Christensen, UPAC secretary
EDITOR'S NOTE
In an effort to generate discussion among UPAC members on pertinent issue affecting the archaeological community, the UPAC Newsletter will print all letters. Letters, preferably on computer disk using Word Perfect 5.1, should be sent to UPAC editor Jerry D. Spangler, 6400 E. Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. The deadline for the fall newsletter is Oct. 1, 1996.
COMMENTS ON COMMENTARY
So sorry to propose such a bad idea at the last UPAC meeting. I kind of thought it was a good idea. Actually, it wasn't my idea at all. At the UPAC Spring meeting, I proposed UPAC allocate $500 toward an ARPA reward fund so that we could advertise a larger ARPA reward amount (the present amount is $500) and receive more information on vandalism to archaeological resources. The money would go into an interest bearing account and could be used by any agency, state or federal, which successfully obtained a civil or criminal conviction for violations of ARPA or the state antiquities act. This would be a one-time UPAC allocation. We would solicit funds from other sources to obtain an amount which could sustain itself. I already have a commitment from the Dixie/Jennifer Jack USAS Chapter for a donation to this fund. Some agencies, such as the Forest Service, already have the latitude to offer larger reward amounts. It would be up to each agency to widely advertise this reward.
The idea actually came from two convicted pot hunters from southwestern Utah. During a conversation with them in the field, I asked "How do we stop guys like you?" Immediately, they replied "You need a reward larger than $500, similar to the reward offered for poaching. And you need to advertise it. Then you would have more people giving you information."
Granted, this is a negative approach toward the preservation of archaeological resources. I believe it is a necessary one because we still have a small audience which only listens to the strong arm of the law. This could be a very effective way to get their attention. I agree we need to pursue positive approaches. And I am one of the first to involve volunteers, amateurs and school children in the preservation of archaeological resources. But a larger reward amount for convictions under ARPA or the state antiquities act is one of the best ideas I have heard in a long time.
UPAC has sufficient funds to support several approaches for saving archaeological resources. We have done so in the past. A $500 allocation toward a larger reward fund against vandalism of these resources is within UPAC's goals and is not a bad idea.
Diana Christensen
Vermillion Resource Area (BLM)