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Construction workers in Aztec discover centuries-old bones

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Avenging Angel
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« on: March 06, 2009, 01:29:08 am »

Construction workers in Aztec discover centuries-old bones
By James Monteleone The Daily Times
Posted: 03/03/2009 12:00:00 AM MST





Archaeologist Vern Hensler, left, draws a rendition of the... (Lindsay Pierce/The Daily Times)«123»AZTEC — Archaeologists are excavating ancient human remains of at least seven people discovered during construction of the Aztec wastewater treatment plant.
Studying pottery and other artifacts found near the graves, scientists estimate the skeletons are at least 700 years old, and potentially older.

Further research likely will confirm the genders and ages of the dead and potentially a cause of death for some. Following the archaeological assessment, the remains and artifacts will return to a descendant tribe for reburial.

The remains first were found last week while construction crews were grading and removing dirt, although a preconstruction archaeological assessment of the site showed no indication of a burial ground. Crews noticed the bones while a dump truck was emptying its load.

The Aztec Police Department and state Office of the Medical Examiner initially treated the site as a crime scene before confirming the remains were ancient. Following the discovery, the site was turned over to the New Mexico Historic Preservation Office, which works with developers to ensure the burial ground is properly excavated.

"Basically when the construction people realized they had human remains, they stopped construction and protected them, and they went through the process that's specified by state law," said Historic Preservation Officer Jan Biella, the acting state archaeologist.

The find required construction crews to stop work in the area of the burial ground,


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instead shifting work to other areas of the developing site of the wastewater treatment plant while scientists ensure all human remains are removed.
"Our goal was not to disturb anymore," Biella said.

Although crews immediately stopped digging, recognizing the significance of the find, some damage was done to the site. Without being able to study the remains as they were found in the ground, research on the nature of the burial site itself will be limited.

"Unfortunately we haven't got any of the original context left. This is where things become more complicated," said Dr. Peter Cater, president and owner of Aztec Archaeological Consultants, the company hired by the city of Aztec to study the site. "Not knowing where they were, how they were laying, what kind of grave they were in, the only thing we can do is look at what we have, which is the human remains, and all of that is going to take several weeks to complete."

Archaeologists sifted dirt throughout the area of the burial site to ensure any pieces of bone or other artifacts are found. Crews also monitored the final stages of digging completed at the site to ensure new discoveries weren't buried by the construction work. The on-site excavation was completed Monday. A lab study of the bones and artifacts will begin today.

The remains date back to between 1200 and 1350, the same period the Aztec Ruins settlement was inhabited. The people found buried at the wastewater treatment plant likely lived in a village on the outskirts of the ruins site, Cater said.

"The only thing we can go on is the small pieces of pottery found in the general area," he said of dating the remains. "They're all sometime in that time period, so we know these folks are that time period or earlier."

The priority for archaeologists working with human remains is determining the closest living descendants. Remains of residents from civilizations in the Four Corners dating back to the 1200s most often are claimed by the modern Hopi tribe.

While the Hopi oppose any disturbance of burial grounds, requiring remains and cultural artifacts be returned to the tribe for reburial is an inevitable compromise given the amount of development throughout the Southwest that's uncovering ancient burial sites, said Leigh Kuwanwisiwma, director of the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office.

After remains are returned, tribal leaders work with state and federal officials to locate a new site for reburial near the original burial grounds.

"It's really the recognition that their original resting grounds are hallowed grounds. This is where they lived out their lives and (were) subsequently laid to rest," Kuwanwisiwma said.

Government officials ensure tribal leaders any new burial site will be protected from a future disturbance.

Reburial ceremonies never were needed in the past, but Hopi leaders have developed the services to respect their ancient ancestors and their own heritage.

"We don't have a way to consciously try to stray from those traditions, so this is why we've been adamantly strong in insisting that those agencies work with us to find areas near their ancestral homes that we can rebury them for their final rests," he said. "That's not to say we endorse it, but it's certainly something we've had to do, which in many ways has compromised our traditional values."


James Monteleone: jmonteleone@daily-times.com
http://www.daily-times.com/ci_11823169
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Avenging Angel
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« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2009, 01:29:41 am »



Archaeologists Vern Hensler, left, and Suzy Huizinga carefully dig around the site where ancient human remains were found last week in Aztec. (Lindsay Pierce/The Daily Times)
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Avenging Angel
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« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2009, 01:30:10 am »



Archaeologist Suzy Huizinga shakes sediment through a fine screen Monday afternoon at the Aztec wastewater treatment plant, where ancient human remains were discovered by construction crews last week. (Lindsay Pierce/The Daily Times)
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Bianca
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« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2009, 07:01:38 am »






It's Aztec, NEW MEXICO..............



NOT THE   A Z T E C  PEOPLE.......


                                               
« Last Edit: March 06, 2009, 07:10:16 am by Bianca » Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
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