Page 6 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 6-5-15

6 June 5, 2015 Feature BULLSEYE

www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb Facebook.com/NellisBullseye

Archaeologist preserves heritage, history

By Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis

99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Archaeology offers the present-day U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class MIkaley Towle
society a different perspective on human history and culture of the past
by examining the cause and effects of changes that occurred in human Kish La Pierre, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron archaeologist, sorts through artifacts found by 99th
cultures over time. CES archaeologists at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 2. La Pierre’s work ensures Nellis AFB remains
a good steward of the local environment.
Unlike a base or wing historian, who specializes in records and docu-
ments of people’s lives, Kish La Pierre, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron
archaeologist, specializes in the lives people may have led through
what they left behind, such as age-old fossils, buildings, markings or
human remains.

“I manage Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases, and the Nevada Test and
Training Range’s cultural resources,” said La Pierre. “The goal here is to
protect and document these resources as U.S. Air Force projects arise.”

Typical resources include World War II or Cold War era buildings
and infrastructure, mining sites, and prehistoric archaeological sites —
which includes rock art, stone tool quarries, sacred Native American
and religious sites, rock shelters and caves.

“We have approximately three million acres of land that hasn’t been
touched for over 50 years,” said Jeff Kirkwood, 99th CES Environment
Assessment section chief. “There are a lot of culturally significant sites
on the range that need to stay protected.”

Nellis AFB is mandated by several Federal laws to protect the coun-
try’s cultural resources.

“As we know, history repeats itself, therefore by studying the past
we can prepare for the future in many ways,” said La Pierre. “Plus we

__________________________ See ARCHAEOLOGY, on page 7

Experience Extraordinary

Military

Discount

15%

everyday

We Cater We Deliver

3820 E. Craig Rd. 1311 W. Craig Rd.
@ Pecos @MLK
(702) 643-7190
(702) 633-0234
Open 24 Hours

online.capriottis.com