July 25, 2011
The Arizona Humanities Council (AHC) has awarded a $1,732 grant to the Arizona Archaeological Society (AAS) and the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) to bring the story of Hohokam archaeology to a global audience. The project will produce a YouTube video of the symposium “Hohokam Archaeology Yesterday and Today,” held at MNA on March 5 as a key 2011 Archaeology Month event. The project’s director is Dr. David R. Wilcox, senior research associate at MNA. Trailhead Video of Sedona will prepare the YouTube video, which features the research of Dr. Wilcox and four additional archaeologists: Dr. David R. Abbott, associate professor at ASU; Dr. David E. Doyel, archaeologist at the Barry M. Goldwater Range; Dr. Jerry B. Howard, curator of anthropology at the Arizona Museum of Natural History; and Henry Wallace, senior research archaeologist at Desert Archaeology, Inc.
“The Hohokam culture is one of five major prehistoric traditions of the Southwest,” said Wilcox. “The symposium authors look both backward at previous contributions and forward to current work, and the value of both new and old to the creation of knowledge about these fascinating people.” According to Ron Robinson, chair of the AAS, the Hohokam culture is one of the central areas of interest to the society’s members, as well as to many people who are interested in southwestern history. “It was a real opportunity for us to be able to collaborate with the MNA to bring this information to the public of Arizona, as well as the wider audience,” said Robinson.
The Arizona Archaeological Society is an independent, nonprofit organization of professional and avocational archaeologists who pursue the study of Arizona and southwestern archaeology; training in the disciplines of archaeology; and the education of members and the public through outreach programs and preservation activities. There are over 600 members in the 12 chapters of the AAS. More information about AAS, including membership information, is available at AzArchSoc.org.
The Museum of Northern Arizona, founded in 1928, is a research, collections, and education organization dedicated to the Colorado Plateau region. Located three miles north of historic downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180 and open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., MNA’s Exhibit Building has nine exhibit galleries featuring Native cultures, artistic traditions, and natural sciences; an interpreted Rio de Flag Nature Trail; and a Museum Shop and Bookstore. More information about MNA, including membership information, is available at musnaz.org or by phone at 928.774.5213.
The Arizona Humanities Council, founded in 1973, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the Arizona affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. AHC is not a state agency. AHC supports public programming in the humanities that promotes understanding of human thoughts, actions, creations, and values. AHC works with museums, libraries, and other cultural and educational organizations to bring humanities programs to residents throughout Arizona. All AHC-supported activities must involve the humanities disciplines: history, literature, philosophy, and other studies that examine the human condition. More information about AHC, including membership information, is available at azhumanities.org.