Changes in Inheritable Traits

a.k.a. evolution.  It’s not all that scary or controversial until someone with a stake in your ignorance makes it that way.

From Understanding Evolution: “Unfortunately, many people have persistent misconceptions about evolution. Some are simple misunderstandings—ideas that develop in the course of learning about evolution, possibly from school experiences and/or the media. Other misconceptions may stem from purposeful attempts to misrepresent evolution and undermine the public’s understanding of this topic..”.

Download a pdf of this topic here.

or have a look at Berkley’s webpage here to understand some basic biology:

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/misconceptions_faq.php

Also, a very simplified explanation of how diversity and adaptation work:

Breaking News About Paleoindians at Clovis!!!

1936:

Portales Daily News.  Note that there was no “Clovis” cultural group yet…\

News1936-1jpgNews1936-2jpgClick HERE for the pdf, with bonus Coronado article OR link below:

http://theclovissite.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/pdn1936.pdf

Prehistory Day at the Blackwater Draw NHL

Prehistory Day was successful, due to an excellent turnout, helpful volunteers, and great weather.  A special thanks goes out to the members of Mu Alpha Nu and their friends for helping out again this year.  Nearly 300 people turned out for the event which lasted all day with people trickling in until we closed at 5:00.

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Chuck Hannaford discusses prehistoric tools and lifeways with interested visitors.

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Mary Weahkee demonstrates traditional yucca fiber working.

Demonstrations included fiber working, sandal making, flintknapping, and hunting techniques used by ancestral New Mexicans.  Discussions ranged from general archaeology to gourd canteens, stone tools, and prehistoric containers.

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Tommy Heflin teaches flintknapping to people of all ages and abilities.

The Portales flintknapping group, headed by Tommy Heflin, were a popular station at the event, helping create a new generation of flintknappers.

Every is attracted to the spear throwing range.

Everyone is attracted to the spear throwing range.  Isaiah Coan from the Office of Archaeological Studies was a great help with the kids.

The "touch-and-feel" tables create many opportunities for learning about the past and what it means to be human.

The “touch-and-feel” tables create many opportunities for learning about the past and what it means to be human.

From the abstract concept of "containers" as an artifact, a local boy learns about prehistoric life.

From the abstract concept of “containers” as an artifact, a local boy learns about prehistoric life.

Stacey Bennett shows her poster display created for the event.

Stacey Bennett shows her poster display created for the event.

We hope to keep the public outreach events a regular occurrence at Blackwater Draw.  Keep your eyes on the blog for future activities.

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Kids of all ages can get in touch with the past at these events.  Hope to see you here next year.

New Mexico Archaeological Council Newsletter

The most recent New Mexico Archaeological Council newsletter is out.  this issue focuses on Paleoindian archaeology and includes a short article of recent activities at the Clovis site.  Click here to download.  If you are a New Mexican, or have an interest in the archaeology of our fine state, consider joining NMAC.

2013-2
Paleoindian Archaeology in New Mexico
Contents:
In Memorium: Patrick Culbert
Introduction
Current Research and Investigations at Blackwater Draw, NM
Recent Research at the Mockingbird Gap Clovis Site
New Finds at the Water Canyon Paleoindian Site
Recent Paleoindian Studies at Spaceport America
Interpreting the Paleoindian Signature of Southeast New Mexico
Late Paleoindian Projectile Point Technology

First 2000 year long temperature reconstructions for individual continents

From the Archaeology News Network:

Past climate change varied remarkably between regions. This is demonstrated in a new study coordinated by the international Past Global Changes (PAGES) project, which reconstructed temperature over the past 1000 to 2000 years.

First 2000-year-long temperature reconstructions for individual continents

During the Little Ice Age between about AD 1250 and 1860 several cold relapses occurred, which stimulated artists to paint winter landscapes. The reproduced example was painted in 1601 by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, based on an older work by his father painted 1565 [Credit: Photo: S.U. Nussbaumer]

It is the first comprehensive temperature reconstruction on a continental scale. One of its main findings is that a general cooling trend, caused by different factors (e.g. orbital-driven insolation and changes in solar and volcanic activity), was ubiquitous across all continental-scale regions and was reversed by a distinct warm trend beginning at the end of the 19th century.

The scale of this project is impressive. Some 80 researchers from all over the world collaborated on the study, which has just been published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience. In one of the widest-ranging efforts yet undertaken to reconstruct climate across the globe, the international author team evaluated data from all continents to track the evolution of temperatures over the past one to two millennia.

READ THE REST HERE…