APRIL 2, 2014
Dr. Jerry Howard, Ph.D presents at Desert Foothills Archeological Society meeting on April 9
CAVE CREEK – Dr. Jerry Howard, Ph.D. presents a newly created lecture on prehistoric Hohokam irrigation. Environmental impacts are often associated with more modern times or industrialized societies. This lecture focuses on the environmental impact of Hohokam irrigation canals/ fields, which clearly had significant impacts on their environment prehistorically.
The Hohokam culture transformed the local Sonoran Desert into agricultural landscapes. Were there consequences to this new environmental landscape? Some researchers focus on the impact and suggestion of salted up fields (salinization) or shut down fields by dumping mass quantities of silts on them as a consequence of such a transformation. Were these consequences responsible for the collapse of the Hohokam culture? This lecture explores the actual facts concerning Hohokam irrigation and its impact of the environment.
Dr. Howard is the Curator of Anthropology at the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa, Arizona. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Mesa Community College. Jerry Howard attained his Ph.D. from Arizona State University. During this time, he authored many archaeological publications and created an overview of settlements and canals in the Salt River Valley. He is viewed as the ultimate information source and expert on prehistoric canals in the Phoenix area with a positive impact on research and public planning.
Howard is a tireless worker with avocational archaeologists fitting their enthusiasm into local archaeological needs and his laboratory support for SWAT (Southwest Archaeological Team). He was a primary supporter of the acquisition, preservation, and study of the massive Mesa Grande Mound as well as its recent opening to the general public in a secure urban setting.
The general 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. Refreshments are available at 7 p.m., the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m., and usually ends prior to 9 p.m. The meetings are held in the community room (Maitland Hall) at The Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331.
For more information visit azarchsoc.org/desertfoothills.
