The Young Steward Saving Arizona's Past | Phoenix News

At just 22, Kate Gordon is rewriting the script for who protects Arizona’s ancient sites—usually older volunteers, now they’re the youngest and most passionate. Inspired by childhood trips with parents and a fifth-grade teacher who showed them real archaeology, Gordon dove into the Arizona Site Steward Program at 16, training in crime scene handling and archaeology basics. They see sites as living things, deeply emotional when uncovering artifacts or remains, fueling their path to a career in cultural resource management. Now, with a degree in anthropology and archaeology, they’ve landed their first full-time job surveying construction sites to safeguard history. Praise from program leaders calls them an inspiration, and Gordon hopes to ignite the next generation to join the mission—volunteering or pursuing careers that preserve our shared past. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5119387468207c77