SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
Aerial photography in archaeology
CAMP VERDE – The Verde Valley Archaeology Center is hosting a free presentation on the importance of aerial photography in archaeology on September 30, at 7 p.m., in the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel Ballroom.
The Center will also be inaugurating the Sherman Loy Memorial Award. This award is to be given annually to an avocational archaeologist for their outstanding efforts in the protection and promotion of the archaeological heritage of the Verde Valley. The recipient is chosen based on their contribution to our knowledge of archaeology, active participation in the preservation or protection of archaeological sites, presentation of educational lectures or discussions, published books or articles, or who has worked closely with organizations that contribute to the science of Anthropology.
The first recipient of this award will be Joe Vogel. Joe Vogel moved to Prescott, Arizona in 1987. Following his retirement from Eastman Kodak he spent his days patrolling known archaeological sites – and discovering new ones – from the cockpit of his 1967 Citabria airplane. Joe has photographed more than 900 sites from 1,000 feet in the air. His more-significant finds include landscape anomalies that led to the identification of prehistoric sites in the Agua Fria National Monument 40 miles north of Phoenix. He also used his flights to look for vandalism. “If I see some vandalism, I try to photograph the site again,” he says, “to see if there has been new damage to it.”
The evening will include a presentation by Joe of some of his aerial photography as well as remarks by Dr. David Wilcox on the important contribution Joe has made to the discovery and preservation of archaeological sites.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
Photo: One of Joe Vogel’s aerial photographs of the Wingfield Mesa pueblo ruins.
