Petroglyph National Monument Proposed


The Senate Energy Committee held a hearing July 27 on legislation that would protect one of North America's richest archaeological sites. S. 286, the Petroglyph National Monument Establishment Act by senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Jeff Bingaman (D)-NM), would protect 5,280 acres of West Mesa, an area outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the preservation, study and interpretation of the more than 15,000 Native American and early historic petroglyphs found there.

The area's highly significant rock art is threatened by rapidly encroaching suburban development, vandalism and inappropriate forms of recreation, according to Harvard Ayers and Ike Eastvold of the Sierra Club's Native American Sites Committee.

The West Mesa petroglyph area is not only of outstanding national significance for the history of our country, it is clearly of international significance along with the rock art sites of Paleolithic Europe, Australia, Algeria, and South Africa, said Ayers in testimony before the committee. Conservationists are advocating that the size of the monument
proposed in the bill be increased to 7,274 acres to encompass additional areas of cultural significance threatened by development.

Conservationists' testimony at the hearing centered on land acquisition for the proposed monument. The Westland Development Co., Inc. has proposed that its 1,964 acres -located in the southern portion of the proposed monument - be acquired by the Park Service in the form of a conservation easement, so that it can retain ownership of the land. "the easement proposed by Westland would threaten the monument from the outset with damaging activities such as cattle grazing and mineral development," said Ayers. "As a development corporation, Westland could frequently be at odds with the preservation mission of the Park Service." Conservationists advocate the outright purchase of Westland.

Rep. Steven Schiff(R-NM) has introduced a companion bill, H.R. 745, in the House. Interested Sierra Club members can write their senators and representatives to urge them to cosponsor the legislation.

Contact: Harvard Ayers, (704) 264-4367
Desert Critters

CHINA LAKE PETROGLYPH TOURS

After ten years of procrastination, Anna, Jim Farkas and I visited the ancient site of native rock art, known as Little Petroglyph Canyon. This is also a registered National Historic Landmark. You have to go on a guided tour, conducted by the Maturango Museum in conjunction with the Navy. The tours are scheduled for specific times, and you have to call ahead to make reservations. According to the Museum, the tours fill up in advance so you can not expect to go there on the spur of the moment. There is a $7.50 charge per person. Tour starts at 8:30 am at the Museum in Ridgecrest, and ends about 3:00 pm. The drive is about 100 mi round trip. Take your lunch, water.

Write or call:
Maturango Museum
P.O. Box 1776
Ridgecrest, CA 93556
619/375-6900
Recommended by Anna and Maris.
 
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