Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Colorado
Painted Hand Pueblo, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwestern Colorado contains the highest known density of prehistoric archaeological sites in the United States. In some places within the 165,000-acre Monument, site densities exceed 100 per square mile. Approximately 5,000 prehistoric sites have so far been identified, and the total number may range from 20,000 to 30,000. One of these sites, like so many from the Pueblo III period (A.D. 1150 to 1300), surrounds the head of a canyon and contains 420 rooms, 90 kivas, a great kiva, and a plaza.
Unfortunately, prior to its establishment in 2000, BLM leased over 80 percent of the land now within the Monument for oil and gas development. Now, BLM has prepared a draft resource management plan (RMP) for Canyons of the Ancients, which will determine how BLM manages oil and gas development, recreation and other activities that may adversely affect cultural resources for the next fifteen to twenty years. The National Trust provided BLM comments on the draft RMP in January 2008, and will remain involved in the development and completion of this important document.
Resources
Comments on the Draft RMP for Canyons of the Ancients (Jan. 30, 2008)
The National Trust's comments on the draft resource management plan for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
