Archeological excavations along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
June 7th at 5:00 PM
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Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA), is conducting excavations at nine archeological sites along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. A photography exhibit about the project, Grand Archaeology: New Excavations along the Colorado River, by Flagstaff photographer Dawn Kish is currently on display at MNA. A special public program about the excavation project will be held in conjunction with the photography exhibit at MNA’s Branigar/Chase Auditorium on Saturday, June 7th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
In 2006, the National Park Service entered into a cooperative agreement with MNA to excavate nine of the most extensively eroded sites along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park where stabilization measures have repeatedly been unsuccessful. This five year project represents the first major excavation of archaeological sites along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon in 40 years.
Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Steve Martin said, “The excavation project is truly exciting as we are learning a great deal about the canyon’s prehistory. To date, we have found that the archeological sites are more extensive than previously known. For example, research crews have found a complete prehistoric masonry room buried just below sand dunes on an eroded river terrace.”
“Grand Canyon National Park and our partner in this project, the Museum of Northern Arizona, consider public outreach and interpretation an integral part of this work,” Martin continued. “I am especially excited about the Museum of Northern Arizona photography exhibit as it conveys the essence of the archeological research in a personal and intimate way.”
The June 7th program is free and open to the public. It will include presentations by project co-directors, Ted Neff, MNA archeologist, and Lisa Leap, Grand Canyon National Park archeologist, and by photographer Dawn Kish. The photography exhibit will run until July 13, 2008, and is made possible through the generous support of the Grand Canyon Association.
For more information on the archeological excavations, please contact Grand Canyon National Park archeologist Lisa Leap at lisa_leap@nps.gov or at 928-226-0166.
For additional information on the MNA exhibit, please contact Tracy Anderson at tanderson@MNA.mus.az.us or at 928-774-5211.
Information about Grand Canyon National Park can be found at www.nps.gov/grca or by calling 928-638-7888.
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