Nevadans for Cultural Preservation

August 2022

Lauren Parry, Ph.D. [she/her] Park Guide for Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

The fossil record of Southern Nevada captures a rich and detailed story of environmental and ecological change, from continental seas, to deserts, wetlands, and forests. Join paleontologist and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Park Guide, Lauren Parry, for a journey through the fossil record. This talk will cover: 1) A brief overview of geologic time, the fossil record, and the field of paleontology, 2) A "time machine" journey through the fossil record of Southern Nevada, 3) How to properly document fossils in field notes or reports, and 4) Rules and regulations concerning fossil collection on different public lands.

To watch this talk on YouTube click here.

July 2022

J. H. N. Loubser PhD, RPA Archaeologist/Rock Art Specialist at Stratum Unlimited LLC

Using examples from the White River Narrows, Lincoln County, Nevada, the main aim of the talk is to show that the recording of rock imagery goes beyond individual images and considers the relationship between the images and the rock surfaces too. From a conservation point of view the observation and recording of the rock surface at various scales of inclusion help assess the physical condition of the rock and the imagery it supports. From an archaeological perspective, the overlap between images and the rock surface and between different images can reveal interesting information on image placement and image sequences. Whereas condition assessments help inform site conservation and management recommendations, creating thumbnails for each individual motif helps with repeatable comparison within and between sites. Trends in repeated overlap sequences between pairs of motifs over a wide area may help create a regional syntax and/or chronology of imagery.

To watch this talk on YouTube, click here.

June 2022

Alicia Jensen, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Archaeologist, has been working in the BLM Carson City District Office (CCDO), Sierra Front Field Office (SFFO) since 2014. She presented a brief history of the CCDO with an emphasis on culturally important areas of the SFFO. She discussed some of the oldest and well-preserved local archaeological sites, Indigenous peoples' lifeways throughout time, significant petroglyph landscapes, the importance of the Pine Nut Mountains, the first Euro-Americans to explore and immigrate to the region, segments of the California National Historic Trail (CA NHT) within the district, the history of the Virginia City National Historic Landmark, and more.

Image from Chilcoot Ridge in Lassen County, CA, looking down on the valley where there is a segment of CA NHT trail.

To watch a video of her presentation visit our YouTube Channel here.

May 2022

NVFCP Executive Director, Rayette Martin and four volunteers joined with Howard Hughes Corp, Tribal monitors from the Las Vegas Band of Paiutes, representatives from Logan Simpson and crew members from Knight and Levitt to "remove" some stubborn old graffiti at petroglyph and pictograph sites outside Las Vegas. We put our muscles, sweat, and hearts into the removal process. NVFCP hopes to do more graffiti restoration projects in the future. 

NVFCP and volunteers provided 80 hours of labor over a three day weekend!

May 2022

Fire Archaeologists: An Introduction to the fire and the role of fire trained archaeologist.

Margaret Hangan, Project Archaeologist, Tonto National Forest

This presentation provided an overview of the need for and the role of fire trained archaeologists on major wildfires.

To watch a recording of this Zoom Webinar click here.

April 2022

NVFCP held a social Meet and Greet at Cheba Hut across from UNLV. We had a great gathering of folks interested in preserving Nevada's heritage. The crowd was about 50/50 archaeologists/non-archaeologists. This was our first in-person social since COVID restrictions started.  

Cheba Hut has provided NVFCP opportunities for fundraising so it was nice to give back to them by enjoying their food and drinks. 

April 2022

NVFCP was invited by the Howard Hughes Corporation to host a booth on April 22 and 23 at the Happy Earth Day Festival in Downtown Summerlin. This event was attended by thousands of people, many of whom did not know that historic trash is protected. We explained how archaeologists use the trash from the past to piece together history. NVFCP created a brochure that included information on how, with population growth and single use items, we need people to reduce, reuse, and recycle. As a way to encourage reuse, we handed out wild sunflower seeds for people to grow in used glass containers. The brochure can be found here. We had a great time speaking with the public and other vendors and educators at the event.

Many thanks to the Howard Hughes Corporation for providing the booth space, printing the handouts, and covering the cost of the sunflower seed packets for this event!

April 2022

Executive Director, Rayette Martin and Volunteer, Brooke Weyandt removed scratched graffiti from an archaeological site at the request of the Bureau of Land Management. The scratched human-like figure was near a number of pictographs (rock painting). The site is seen from the highway so it gets hit with vandalism fairly regularly. NVFCP even made a video of spray paint graffiti removal at the sites in 2021. The video can be seen on NVFCP's YouTube Channel here.

It is important that the public does not try to remove graffiti. Oftentimes well intentioned individuals make the graffiti more difficult to remove and they may not be able to see faded pictographs or petroglyphs (rock pecking). Please report any graffiti at archaeological sites on public lands to the Nevada Site Stewardship Program's online reporting page here.

April 2022

Harry Konwin, Archaeologist, Bureau of Land Management Caliente Field Office

A Brief History of Lincoln County, Nevada.

Folks have been trudging around Lincoln County, Nevada for at least 12,000 years. They have left evidence of their presence from the valleys to the mountains in the high desert terrain. They came here as nomads and some stayed as pioneers. The artifacts range from the stone tools and art of the prehistoric inhabitants to cabins in the woods and ghost towns built by European settlers. In this brief presentation we'll see the span of human subsistence in this still rural landscape.

To watch a recording of this Zoom Webinar click here. 

April 2022

NVFCP, Nevada Site Stewards, and members of the OHV community, worked together to survey and plan for a proposed fence to keep vehicles from accidentally driving over unmarked graves in the Pine Grove Cemetery. Pedestrian access will be encouraged and informational signs will be placed on the fence.