First National Site Stewardship Workshop

Abstracts and Recordings from October 14-15, 2020

Beth Padon, Partners for Archaeological Site Stewardship, and Rebecca Palmer, Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer

• Welcome to recordings from the first national archaeological site stewardship workshop. This workshop was originally planned as a conventional conference to take place over one day at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. Then, for health and safety concerns, the workshop changed to a webinar that took place over two days, in a four-hour session each day. Archaeologists and volunteers site stewards representing 12 different organizations from across the country took part in presentations and panel discussions about improving and expanding public participation in protecting archaeological and historical resources. Hundreds of people viewed this event live. We are pleased to offer these recordings of the presentations. For more information about archaeological site stewardship, please contact your local historical or archaeological society, or contact Partners for Archaeological Site Stewardship at www.sitestewardship.org.

Rebecca Shelton, Terrestrial Archeologist, TASN Coordinator.

• Title: Protection of Community Heritage by Local Volunteers
• Abstract: Although there are many professional organizations with degreed members practicing cultural heritage preservation, there is a group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to protect their cultural heritage from disappearing in Texas. For over 36 years, the Texas Archeological Stewardship Network has assisted the Archeology Division of the Texas Historical Commission in bringing public archeology to life in their own communities. These highly skilled volunteers bring a wide array of skill sets to the network. Archeology appeals to history buffs, cemetery guardians, museum docents, high school educators, and engineers. As trusted members of their communities, stewards assist landowners with identifying archeological sites and collaborate with county historical commissioners to identify under told stories and create roadside markers. Stewards spend time sharing their passion for archeology and history to school children. This multi-generational approach personalizes local history and helps students to identify with their past. One of the biggest challenges facing cultural heritage preservationist is equal representation in the histories studied and the stories told. To maintain healthy collaboration between professional preservationists and dedicated volunteers, we have begun to diversify recruitment to overcome underrepresented stories in local histories.

Sean Hammond, State Coordinator, Arizona Site Steward Program, Arizona State Parks & Trails; Jill McCormick, Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe Historic Preservation Officer; and Steve Boley, Regional Coordinator, Arizona Site Steward Program

• Title: The Role of the Arizona Site Steward Program Foundation
• Abstract: The Arizona Site Steward Program Foundation was established in 2017 to provide guidance and funding during a difficult and critical period in the history of the Site Steward Program (SSP). Site Steward Regional Coordinator and Foundation member Dave Salge and State SSP Coordinator, Sean Hammond, will discuss the Foundation and how it plays a critical role in the success of the program. Additionally, we will discuss the Foundation's importance to the 2019 SSP Annual Conference and how the conference was part of a strategy to restore lost trust, improve relationships and rejuvenate members.

Sarah E. Miller, Florida Public Archaeology Network

• Title: Heritage Monitoring Scouts (HMS Florida): Florida Public Archaeology Network’s participatory site stewardship program
• Abstract:The Heritage Monitoring Scouts (HMS Florida) program is a statewide, citizen-sciencemonitoring initiative started by the Florida Public Archaeology Network(FPAN) in 2016. Volunteers sign up through the HMS Florida website(www.fpan.us), provide contact information, state their interests inmonitoring, and sign a code of ethics/program agreement. FPAN developed anonline portal and geodatabase management system for this purpose utilizingArches, an open-source online cataloguing system created in part by theGetty Foundation and World Monuments Fund. The HMS program and trainingoffers unique opportunities to Florida residents and visitors alike,combining archaeology, preservation, and emergency planning in aparticipatory framework. Currently, HMS Florida consists of 677 registeredvolunteer scouts from 52 different Florida counties. Since the launch ofthe HMS Florida program, 1,971 HMS monitoring forms have been submittedwith nearly half of the sites located on state lands.

Wanda Raschkow, Friends of Cedar Mesa, Utah Heritage Stewardship Program

• Title: Stewardship in the 21st Century: Digital Site Monitoring
• Abstract: Paperwork is the bane of stewardship programs. No one wants to do it; program coordinators hate having to “chase” after their stewards to get it. Yet- without monitoring reports how do we track changes in our sites and demonstrate the value of our efforts? These days, nearly everyone is walking around with a small computer in hand- why not use it to record site monitoring observations? Join Wanda Raschkow as she discusses new technologies that allow you to report without doing paperwork.

Samantha Rubinson, SHPO Southern Representative & Nevada Site Stewardship Program Coordinator

• Title: Recording your site like a crime scene: Photography and GPS in the field
• Abstract: This presentation will show you how to look at the entirety of your site, to see things that you have never noticed before. Your site is not just the rock art panel or pueblo, or artifact scatter you thought it was – it’s so much more. Like Sherlock Holmes, you will learn how to observe like a police detective and record your site like a CSI. This presentation will explore photography, GPS, and basic mapping skills to record your site systematically and in detail - ensuring that your data will be useful to both land managers and law enforcement.

Nicole Lohman, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office

• Title: Stewardship and Science: Documenting and Recording Rock Art
• Abstract: In this presentation we will first discuss how to best document changes observed during monitoring visits to sites. The presentation will then discuss some of the methods that are used to document rock art for scientific study and how those methods can be incorporated into stewardship activities.

Shanna Diederichs, Site Conservator Woods Canyon Archaeological Consultants, Inc.

• Title: Understanding and Preserving a Much Loved but Little-Known Site onCedar Mesa in Southeast Utah
• Abstract: The cliff dwellings of Cedar Mesa in southeast Utah are enigmatic and beautiful attractions. Intrepid enthusiasts have sought them out for generations, but recent publicity brought on by the designation of Bears Ears National Monument paired with location data available on the internet, has led to exponential numbers of visitors to these sites. Two years ago, the region was put on the World Monuments Watch list of endangered places based on reports of increasing damage to its cultural landscape. Under a project funded by the World Monuments Fund, the Butler Conservation Fund, and Friends of Cedar Mesa, visitor impacts, safety, and education are being addressed at sites across various jurisdictions in southeast Utah. This paper focuses on one particularly well-loved site, telling the story of its ancient history, importance to modern Pueblo tribes, and the steps taken to conserve it.

Elizabeth Hora, Public Archaeologist

• Title: Protect the Past! How Utah is Stopping Archaeological Vandalism
• Abstract: People have lived in Utah for over twelve thousand years, and pieces of their histories can be found all around us. From corn granaries perched in high sandstone alcoves, to a small stone etched with lines, to the arrowheads, pottery sherds, and rock imagery we are all familiar with - the past lives among us, eager to tell it’s story. Sadly, we’ve seen too many instances of Archaeological Vandalism: damage done to these archaeological sites that destroy our connections to the past and disrespect the people who came before us. You can help Stop Archaeological Vandalism through a variety of different means and in this presentation you’ll learn how. The Utah Public Archaeology Network is connecting people and organizations across the state to Stop Archaeological Vandalism through education and training, and soon through the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship Program. If you want to get active and involved with people dedicated to preserving Utah’s past then bring a pen and paper to this talk and get ready to be inspired!
• Elizabeth provided the following links during her presentation: "Encourage one other person to bedome a site steward" at bit.ly/SiteStewardshipInterest; "Download and distribute our Artifact Guides" at bit.ly/ArtifactGuides; "Donate your time and knowledge, --Write an op-ed, --Record a video blog for UPAN" at bit.ly/VirtualNMC2020.