Lecture Series Weeks 4 and 5

Date: February 4, 2014
Contact: Karl Cordova, 520-723-3172

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Feb 3rd, 2014

Karl Cordova, Superintendent [phone]

Upcoming Lectures at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument 

COOLIDGE, AZ – On Wednesday February 12th, at noon, Dr. Jerry Howard will present Mesa Grande: Arizona's Newest Cultural Park. Dr. Howard will discuss the prehistoric platform mound found at the site of Mesa Grande. This platform mound is one of the two largest ever built during the Hohokam culture. Preserved by a series of interesting individuals, the mound did not enter into public ownership until the mid-1980s. In this presentation, the nature of the site is described, the history of preservation is examined and the building of Arizona's newest cultural and archaeological park reviewed. Come hear the story of this exciting and ancient treasure located in the middle of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Don't forget, this week, on Wednesday Feb5th, at noon, Greg McNamee will present, Monumental Places: Arizona's National Parks and Monuments. Arizona is home to some of America's most iconic national parks, including Canyon de Chelly, Saguaro National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. Arizona also harbors lesser known treasures, such as Chiricahua National Monument, Hubbell Trading Post, and the new Agua Fria National Monument.

Additional upcoming lectures include: February 19^th, Al Dart, M.A. will present Rock Calendars and Ancient Timepieces, Feb26^th Dr. Kyle Woodson will present, The Impact of Flooding on Hohokam Canal Irrigation Agriculture, March 5^th Dr. Gary Huckleberry will present Geo-archaeological Aspects of Pre-Hispanic Water Control and Management in Arizona, March 12^th, Dr. Chris Lorendorf will present the Hohokam to Akimel O'odham Continuum, March 19^th, Alycia Hayes will present, A History of Preservation at Casa Grande Ruins: America's First Archeological Preserve, March 26^th TBA. The Casa Grande Ruins lecture series is in partnership with the Friends of Casa Grande Ruins and is open to the public and with general admission fees. Lectures take place every Wednesday at noon, from Jan 15^th -March 26^th at the Casa Grande Ruins visitor center auditorium located at 1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ. For more information and a schedule of upcoming speakers and events, please visit www.nps.gov/cagr/, or call [phone].

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument protects the multi-story 'Great House' and the ruins of other ancient structures built by the people of the Sonoran Desert over 800 years ago. Established as the nation's first archeological reserve in 1892, the Ruins sparked the beginning of the archeological preservation movement in America. The Monument is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Directions and additional information are available on the Monument's website. or call [phone].

-NPS-