Desert Foothills Chapter, AZ Archaeological Society presents guest speaker Ken Zoll April 10

Ken Zoll presents, Meteorites Among the Ancient People of Central Arizona. The occurrence of meteorites on archaeological sites in North America has been known since the early 19th century. From the Hopewell culture in the eastern United States to the Indians in the American Southwest and northern Mexico, meteorites have been found on these ancient sites. Much like meteorite hunters of today, ancient Native American cultures actively engaged in meteorite collecting. Several meteorite fragments from Meteor Crater near Flagstaff have been discovered at ancient dwellings in Central Arizona. This presentation describes these meteorite locations, how they are associated with Meteor Crater and how one of the meteorites, using radiocarbon dating, established its location within a ruin and confirmed the date of the ruin’s destruction.

Ken Zoll is the Executive Director of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center in Camp Verde, Arizona. Ken is also the Regional Coordinator for the site steward program with the Arizona State Parks and Trails, and a volunteer docent at cultural heritage sites in the Coconino National Forest. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in ancient astronomical practices of the Southwest and is a certified instructor in ancient astronomy fieldwork. Ken is the author of several books on local ancient rock art and astronomical practices, as well as several articles in professional journals on his studies. He received his B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Loyola University Chicago and retired to Sedona in 2004, after 35 years of Federal service.

The public may attend an Arizona Archaeology Society – Desert Foothills Chapter meeting at no charge, except for the holiday party in December. The AAS-DFC meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, September through May. There are refreshments available at 7:00 PM and the meeting begins at 7:30 PM, usually ending prior to 9:00 PM. The meetings are held in the Community Room (Maitland Hall) at The Good Shepard of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (near the Dairy Queen). www.azarchsoc.wildapricot.org/desertfoothills