Peter J. Pilles Jr., “Sinagua and Salado Similarities as Seen from the Verde Valley.” Kiva, Vol. 42, No. 1, The 1978 Salado Conference (Fall 1976), pp. 113-124.

This article was published in 1976 and starts off by providing a brief history of the Verde Valley, comparing the Upper Verde to the Lower Verde. The East Verde River is the point at which the Verde Valley is separated. Pilles examines the environment, climate, and history as it pertains to each the Upper and Lower Verde. It’s undeniable that there are similarities between the Sinagua and Salado. He looks in depth to examine whether the similarities are due to influences on each other, or possibly and underlying influence that preceded both cultures.
Peter J. Pilles Jr. seems to have dedicated his career to archeological research in the Arizona area. He has played a big part in the early years of the Arizona Archeological Council, holding positions such as treasurer, secretary, vice-president, and president during the years 1979-1983. I think it’s important to note these years because this article was written just prior to his appointment in the AAC. This leads me to believe his work is of great integrity, and this was noticed by his peers. In the article he also states the primary resources he consulted during his research. In the acknowledgements he goes on to thank all these people for proof-reading his drafts, providing comments, and sharing observations. Instead of just reading a book and interpreting it for himself, he went out and sought these people for a first-hand account of the material. With this being said I believe he is well qualified to produce an article on this subject matter.
When looking at a culture it’s important to identify certain traits. In this case, items such as architecture, burial patterns, and ceramics become important aspects to the characterization of the