Ella and Roy Pierpont, Avocational Archaeologists

Ella and Roy Pierpoint are the driving force behind preservation and interpretation efforts at the Gatlin Site National Historic Landmark in Gila Bend. Ella is responsible for obtaining more than $185,000 in grants and matching funds. Roy spearheaded the fencing of the site and has since directed the construction of trails and the stabilization of mounds, as well as the building of pithouse replicas. This work was made possible by resources donated by Pierpoint Farms.

Throughout the process, Ella maintained communication with representatives of the San Lucy District of the Tohono O’odham Nation. As a result, the people of San Lucy are actively involved in the project. Ella and Roy were also instrumental in the survey of the Fort Pierpoint Site in the Gila Bend Mountains. This work, conducted under the direction of Dr. David Doyel and with volunteers from the Agua Fria Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society, resulted in the recording of a 40-acre concentration of cultural resources including an extensive ancient trail system, rock shelters, rock circles, masonry rooms, and petroglyphs.

Center for Desert Archaeology, Archaeology Southwest Newsletter

The Center for Desert Archaeology was incorporated in 1989 to pursue research, preservation, and educational activities focused on the places and archaeology of the southwest and northern Mexico. The Center shares their work with the public through a quarterly publication entitled Archaeology Southwest. Archaeology Southwest was first published in 1986. Each issue currently contains eight to ten articles written by leading Southwestern archaeologists and other authors. Through Archaeology Southwest, the Center helps the public connect with the diverse landscapes of the Southwest.

Archaeology Southwest also helps the general public and professional archaeologists keep up with the latest in Southwestern scholarship. Generous distribution of the newsletter has enabled the Center to build preservation partnerships and to practice community-based archaeology on a wide geographic scale. Anthropology professors use Archaeology Southwest to fill a niche left unaddressed by introductory textbooks. Archaeology Southwest also plays an important role in reaching underserved communities in rural areas and on Indian reservations. The newsletter has been described as “a text-book case for how public archaeology can and should be done.”

James Ayres, Professional Archaeologist

Jim Ayres has been a professional archaeologist for more than 40 years. Along the way he has held many positions, including Project Director and Principal Investigator at the Arizona State Museum, State Historic Preservation Officer, independent archaeological consultant, and adjunct member of the Anthropology faculty at the University of Arizona. His many accomplishments were recently recognized by the Society for Historical Archaeology, which awarded him its prestigious J. C. Harrington Medal. Jim specializes in the fields of historical archaeology, history, and historic preservation, and is at the forefront of each. For this reason, he is a much sought-after consultant. Jim has also been active in bringing historical archaeology to the public. His past and current service commitments in the historic preservation community are numerous, and include many leadership positions. Among these are:

Member, Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission

Vice Chair and later Chair, Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission

Member, Pima Association of Governments Transportation Enhancement Task Force

Member, State Board of Directors, Arizona Historical Society

Vice Chair and later Chair, Arizona Historical Advisory Commission

Member, Board of Advisors, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Joseph Joaquin, Cultural Resources Specialist

Joseph Joaquin, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, has been the Cultural Resources Specialist in the tribe’s Cultural Affairs Office for more than a decade. When serving as a member of the tribe’s Legislative Council, Mr. Joaquin was Chair of the Cultural Preservation Committee, and in that capacity was a major contributor to organizing the Cultural Affairs Office. Mr. Joaquin has long been a central figure in the Four Southern Tribes Working Group, an organization designed to address cultural resource issues between the O’odham and Pee Posh peoples and state and federal agencies.

He has been instrumental in plans to build the Tohono O’odham Cultural Center and Museum at Topawa, an institution that will help to preserve Tohono O’odham culture. Mr. Joaquin is also a tribal representative on the Tucson-Pima County Historic Preservation Committee and works with Tohono O’odham groups in Mexico preserving cultural resources and sacred places in Sonora. With all his responsibilities, he still carves out time to make presentations about O’odham culture to many different groups, including elementary-school-age children.

Lester Chapman, Avocational Archaeologist

Lester Chapman, an avocational archaeologist for more than 20 years, is one of the founding members of the Cochise Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society and has served in virtually every office in that organization. Les was a long-time Site Steward and Regional Coordinator for the Sierra Vista area. Under his leadership, the number of Site Stewards and the number of sites monitored rapidly expanded. His infectious enthusiasm for the protection of archaeological resources was clearly communicated when he trained new recruits.

Les has been an important asset to both the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. Under the direction of Jane Childress, of the BLM’s San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area, Les made critical contributions to rock art recording projects and archaeological surveys. He also assisted in the investigation of vandalism to Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate and in the repair work that followed. Under the direction of Coronado National Forest archaeologist, William Gillespie, Les assisted with a damage assessment and excavations when vandalism was discovered on a site in Lochiel.

Mark Millman, Site Steward

Mark Millman, a Site Steward from the Prescott Region, has been described as tireless in his monitoring of archaeological sites that are both remote and difficult to access. Mark has logged more than 150 site visitation hours in just six quarters as a Steward and recently helped his Regional Coordinator to train 11 new recruits. He has also assisted in excavation and artifact processing under the supervision of professional archaeologist, Tom Motsinger.

His most laudable achievement, however, is the design and implementation of an outreach program geared toward local students in grades 4 through 6. In his visits to schools Mark explains the need to preserve Arizona’s archaeological and historic sites and introduce students to the Arizona Site Steward Program. Mark is currently in the process of developing a similar program that is aimed at adults.

Southwest Archaeology Team, Inc.

The Southwest Archaeology Team began as a group of volunteers 30 years ago. In 1986, the group incorporated and adopted its name, with its appropriate acronym, SWAT. SWAT’s goals are to field emergency archaeological crews to survey or excavate sites that would otherwise be lost, to promote the stabilization and preservation of prehistoric and historic sites, and to provide educational programs for adults and children. SWAT members have participated in numerous emergency survey, excavation, and stabilization projects. They have travelled to many places around the state to do this work, including Tumacacori National Historical Park, Mission Los Santos Angeles de Guevavi, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, Pennington Stone Cabin, and an Archeological Conservancy site near Cottonwood.

SWAT members have been doing stabilization work at the Pueblo Grande platform mound since 1994. They have also been excavating and stabilizing at Mesa Grande, restoring the Serrine House, and stabilizing the Verdugo site for many years. SWAT has promoted archaeology through work with the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and with the Boy Scouts of America. SWAT members also have produced exhibits and organized activities for children at city and museum festivals, at the Arizona Archeology Expo and at the Tumacacori Christmas festival.