These lectures are presented by Ken Zoll. Ken is a founding member and the Executive Director Emeritus of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum in Camp Verde.
He received B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Loyola University Chicago. Ken retired in 2004 to Sedona with his wife Nancy after 35 years of Federal Service in Chicago and Washington, DC., where he began a second career in archaeology. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in ancient astronomical practices of the American Southwest. Ken is the past president of the Verde Valley Chapter in Sedona of the Arizona Archaeological Society, and a past Arizona Humanities AZ Speaks presenter.
Publications
Ancient Verde Valley Family Life: The Sinagua at the Dyck Cliff Dwelling with Todd Bostwick
The untold story of the people who lived in this cliff dwelling is revealed within its walls.
Understanding the Rock Art of Sedona and the Verde Valley
There are over 450 rock art sites in the area. Many visitors express great interest in the rock art at the cultural heritage sites.
Heart of the Sky: Ancient Skywatchers of Central Arizona
The Hopi are culturally affiliated with the ancient Sinagua culture. The similarities of the sunwatching techniques of the Hopi were present with their Sinagua ancestors.
Sinagua Sunwatchers: An Archaeoastronomy Survey
One of the primary west-facing panels, with more than 125 petroglyphs, includes eleven elements that are ascribed to have astronomical associations.
The Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site at the V-V Historic Ranch with Peter J. Pilles
This site is the largest petroglyph site in the Verde Valley, and best-preserved with few items of historic graffiti.
H. H. Nininger: Master of Meteorites
Harvey H. Nininger is considered by many to be the “Father of American Meteoritics” - the study of meteorites.
Published Articles
Zoll's peer-reviewed and specialized articles have appeared in the Journal of Arizona Archaeology, the Plateau Journal, Arizona Highways, and the Journal of Astronomy in Culture, and the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology’s Anthropological Papers Series Number 9. He has written for prominent regional publications, including authoring features for Archaeology Southwest, which explores preservation and heritage in the region. The Arizona Archaeological Society published “A Cultural Astronomy Study of the Casa Malpais National Historic Landmark” (Springerville, Arizona)in Arizona Archaeologist No. 38.
Awards and Recognition
Roger Lidman Distinguished Service Award by the Museum Association of Arizona
Distinguished Service Award by the Society for Cultural Astronomy in the American Southwest
Regional Coordinator of the Year Award by the Arizona State Site Steward Program
Excellence in Leadership Award by the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum
In 2022, the Verde Valley Archaeology Center named their new building the “Ken and Nancy Zoll Building.”
New Volunteer of the Year Award by the Sedona Friends of the Forest