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2013 Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Month (AAHAM) Expo Participation Form Are Available!

In celebration of Arizona's unique archaeological, historical, and tribal past, organizations and individuals can provide lectures, tours, demonstrations, and other events throughout the State during the month of March. The Expo Form can be downloaded below. If anyone has any questions, or would like a form directly, please contact Kris Dobschuetz at kdobschuetz(at)azstateparks.gov or call 602-542-7141. Download Expo Participant Form ( 113 KB PDF) Download 2013 Poster ( 2.2 MB PDF) See Event Calendar

March 16: 2013 Archaeology Expo: Life on the Edge: Feast or Famine in Arizona’s Past

9 am to 4 pm. This year’s Expo will offer many educational attractions for archaeology and history buffs, and will be located at the historic Horseshoe Ranch on the Agua Fria National Monument, north of Phoenix.  The Expo is open to the public and is FREE. Arizona Game & Fish Department and the Bureau of Land Management are co-hosting the event. Event supported by: BLM, USFS, AZ Game & Fish, Friends of Agua Fria National Monument, and Arizona SciTech Festival. Learn more about this event.

April 12: Due Date For Nominations for GAAC's Awards in Public Archaeology & Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards

The Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission (GAAC) is sponsoring its 27th annual Awards in Public Archaeology. The Commission is a statutory board that advises the State Historic Preservation Officer on issues of relevance to Arizona archaeology. The Awards are presented to individuals, organizations, and/or programs that have significantly contributed to the protection and preservation of, and education about, Arizona's non-renewable archaeological resources. Download Nomination Form ( 138 KB PDF)

The Arizona Preservation Foundation and the State Historic Preservation Office/Arizona State Parks invite your nominations for the annual Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards. Each year awards are given to individuals, businesses, organizations, and/or projects in recognition of outstanding achievements in preserving Arizona’s prehistoric and historic resources. Download Nomination Form ( 158 KB PDF)

SHPO Report on State Agency Compliance

Arizona State Statutes §41-861 through §41-864 direct state agencies to: preserve historic properties under their ownership or control; consider the use of historic properties for agency responsibilities; establish a program to locate, inventory, and nominate properties to the Arizona Register of Historic Places; insure that properties are not destroyed or substantially altered by state action or assistance; make appropriate documentation in accordance with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) standards if a property is destroyed or altered; and seek review and comment from the SHPO on agency plans. This report provides a summary of the performance of state agencies in compliance with these state statutes. The information provided was compiled from SHPO records and an agency self-evaluation questionnaire
SHPO FY 2011-12 Report on State Agency Compliance ( 456 KB PDF)

New! Revised Standards for Documents Submitted for SHPO Review

SHPO reviews a variety of documents related to compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470, and the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA), A.R.S. §41-861 et seq. In order to facilitate historic preservation compliance reviews, the SHPO has established documentation standards for survey reports, report abstracts, and cover letters. These documentation standards are based in part on guidance provided within the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation publications and policies, 36 C.F.R. §800.11, National Register Bulletins, SHPO guidance on implementing the SHPA, and Arizona State Museum (ASM) rules for implementing the Arizona Antiquities Act, A.R.S. §41-841 et seq. These documentation standards are provided as guidance for state and federal agencies, as well as for local municipal governments when consulting with our office. The SHPO encourages agencies to share these standards with consultants and project proponents who assist agencies with compliance with historic preservation statutes. Standards for Documents Submitted for SHPO Review in Compliance with Historic Preservation Laws ( 130 KB PDF)

Places to Remember: Guidance for Inventorying and Maintaining Historic Cemeteries

To help commemorate Arizona’s centennial on February 14, 2012, a centennial project was begun to inventory and promote the protection of historic cemeteries throughout the state. Historic cemeteries were chosen as the focus of a centennial project because they are important irreplaceable resources many of which are in danger of being lost through neglect, natural erosion, and vandalism. As the Arizona Centennial approached, it seemed appropriate that an organized statewide effort be undertaken to locate, inventory and provide guidance for the conservation and maintenance of these significant properties.

2012 Guidance for Inventorying and Maintaining Historic Cemeteries ( 8.4 MB PDF)

100 Arizona Archaeological and Historical Sites Open to the Public

In honor of Arizona's Centennial, the Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission assembled the following list of 100 archaeological and historical sites that are open to the public. We encourage you to visit Arizona's past! Download Archaeological and Historical Sites List (PDF) ( 86 KB PDF) or (XLS) ( 61 KB XLS)

Watch Site Steward Video Message From Harrison Ford

AZ Site Stewards program

What is Historic Preservation?

Historic preservation is the identification, management, and protection of tangible elements from the past for future generations. It is the history that we can see and experience. As we move into the future with the explosion of new technologies, historic preservation provides an anchor to our past. Historic preservation encourages the protection of historic and archaeological resources that are associated with important past events, themes, and people; that are representative of periods and types of architecture, possess high artistic value; or that are likely to yield valuable information about the past. Historic preservation helps us to know who we are by teaching us about where we came from.

How Does Historic Preservation Benefit Arizona?

• Arizona's historic and archaeological properties are tangible reminders of the people and events that molded our state.
  
• Arizona's archaeological sites hold the clues to 12,000 years of culture, land use, settlement, and exploration.
  
• Historic buildings provide character and a sense of continuity for our communities.
  
• Arizona's unique historic and archeological resources attract tourists from all over the world.
  
• Reuse of existing historic residences and commercial properties conserves energy and materials and is less expensive than building new structures.
  
• Historic preservation helps to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods and business districts.

How Can You Become Involved in Historic Preservation?

• Learn more about the history of your community and Arizona.
  
• Join a local preservation, historical, or archaeological organization.
  
• Become a Arizona Site Steward Volunteer.
  
• Encourage heritage education programs in your schools.
  
• Support businesses in your historic downtown districts.
  
• Visit local and state historic and archaeological parks and sites.
  
• Become involved in local and state decisions, ordinances, and legislation that affect historic and archaeological resources.
• Explore more on our Related Links page