Sand Canyon’s ancient Puebloan ruins are
slowly being destroyed by insensitive visitors
and centuries of weathering. Can this area
in southwestern Colorado be preserved
and still remain accessible for visitors? Experiential
vacations, the kind that get visitors to roll up their sleeves
and get involved in archeological preservation, are proving to
be the saving grace of the remnants of early civilization in
Sand Canyon.
For more than a millennium a culture thrived in what is now
the southwestern United States. The people—who called themselves
a name that no one now knows—hewed intricate apartment-like
dwellings out of canyon cliffs. Belonging to four distinct linguistic
groups, these natives, nevertheless, shared common cultural traditions,
from basket-making to agronomy and the creation and use
of pottery. Originally known collectively as the “Anasazi,” a
Navajo word roughly translated as “ancient ones,” they
are referred to today as Ancient Puebloan People. Their archeological
legacy is extensive but endangered.
Sand Canyon is a significant source of Anasazi ruins. The red-rock
canyon lies adjacent to McElmo Canyon, home of Kelly Place. Rodney
and Kristie Carriker have operated Kelly Place (named for the
original owners, horticulturists George and Sue Kelly) since
1980. Two years after they opened, Elderhostel in Boston chose
Kelly Place as its first off-campus site in the nation. The Carrikers
worked with Elderhostel to offer hiking, biking, horseback riding,
pottery, and archeology education programs to older adults. Then,
in 1990, the Carrikers founded the McElmo Canyon Research Institute
(MCRI) and began using the Bureau of Land Management’s
(BLM) Sand Canyon Resource Area as one of the main outdoor attractions
for their guests.
It was while leading guided tours into Sand Canyon, that the
Carrikers realized the urgency of stemming the deterioration
occurring there. But the size of the job was daunting. There
were so many sites in Sand Canyon alone that BLM hadn’t
even been able to
document them all—much less do the necessary work to protect
the ruins from further deterioration.
Back in 1987 BLM had completed a cultural resources management
plan for the area. As a result, the area had been closed to motorized
vehicles. In 1990, BLM had opened up the six-mile-long Sand Canyon
Trail in an attempt to protect the landscape from further erosion
by keeping visitors on just one path. The trail had worked well
for a few years and had attracted hikers, horseback riders,
and mountain bikers alike. But as Sand Canyon became more popular,
concerns about visitor impact grew.
By 1996, Sand Canyon was attracting more than 10,000 visitors—as
compared to just 500 in 1986. With budget and staffing
limitations, BLM simply did not have the funds to manage the
impact of that many visitors. Then came talk of seasonal closures
to give Sand Canyon time to recover.
Seasonal closures of Sand Canyon would affect the Carriker’s
livelihood and others as well.
Sand Canyon was a major attraction not only for their guests,
but for many outdoor adventure
tourists visiting the Four Corners area. There had to be a way
to keep Sand Canyon accessible
and open to the public.
“This partnership validates
the public’s commitment to the
preservation of cultural resources.” — Kristie Arrington, Bureau of Land Management
What Happened Next
In 1996, the Carrikers proposed a partnership with BLM, knowing
that there was strength in numbers when it came to effecting
change. Completing an archeological survey was the first priority
to find out more about the number and kind of sites in the canyon.
In addition, the survey could help secure National Register of
Historic Places designation for Sand Canyon, opening up the possibility
of more grants. Thus, in November of that year, MCRI and BLM
jointly applied for
a Colorado Historical Society grant to
conduct a survey of the undocumented archeological sites in the
Sand Canyon Resource Area. The proposal was funded.
MCRI helped staff the survey with 111
volunteer Elderhostel participants, and Kelly Place offered lodging
and camping facilities for the helpers. As the first survey
week approached, MCRI found that they had filled all the volunteer
slots and had
a waiting list in excess of 200 people.
To fully appreciate the monumental task undertaken by the survey
participants,
note that getting to the sites involved a four-mile jeep trail
drive followed by hikes of various duration, depending on the
sites’ locations. Water, tools, and other materials had
to be packed in by horses.
The survey took place between March 1997 and March 1998. The
completed
survey of 1,600 acres of BLM land identified 136 cultural resources,
including 100 sites and 36 isolated finds. Seventy-three
of these sites had not been recorded
previously, and 20 previously recorded sites were located more
accurately and
re-recorded. Fifty-two sites were recommended as being eligible
for the National Register of Historic Places. The survey
reinforced the tremendous need to secure the most severely deteriorated
structures
in a more stable form.
“Because of declining budgets, we would not have been
able to accomplish the
survey without the help of the Kelly Place. Partnerships like
this have become our only way to offer interpretation, protection,
and public enjoyment of cultural resources,” explains Richard
Steegle, BLM Recreation Coordinator.
Since the survey’s completion, Kelly Place’s successful
partnership with BLM and Elderhostel has continued with six one-week “working
vacations” each year. The emphasis has changed from survey
work to structural stabilization and preservation. Participants
stay at Kelly Place, learn about the history and archeology of
the area,
and work side-by-side with trained archeologists to preserve
ruins in Sand Canyon. After each trip, the archeologists document
the work for future archeologists in carefully detailed reports.
Making the Most of Opportunities
Collaborate: By
working together in a public-private partnership, BLM, Kelly
Place, and MCRI found
they could accomplish their goals of protecting cultural resources
while supporting local tourism business at the same time. BLM
provided project oversight, materials, and transportation,
while Kelly Place provided volunteer labor. Forming a public-private
partnership also gave BLM the opportunity to take advantage
of grant funds through the
nonprofit MCRI.
Find
the Fit Between the Community and Tourism: BLM’s
primary concern was to ensure the preservation and protection
of the cultural resources in Sand Canyon, while Kelly Place wanted
to ensure that Sand Canyon stayed open for visitors, thus securing
the livelihood of their tourism business. By using visitors as
volunteers to help with documentation and preservation efforts,
BLM and Kelly Place have both been able to achieve their goals.
Make
Sites and Programs Come Alive: Kelly Place’s
working vacations offer participants a hands-on experience
that provides
a meaningful understanding of and appreciation for the Anasazis
as well as for the field of archeology.
Focus
on Quality and Authenticity: All work is carefully
supervised and documented by trained archeologists. Detailed
reports describe
the stabilization work so future generations will know which
work was done by archeologists and which was done by the ancient
people. The purpose of ruin preservation is to preserve the
site exactly as it is, doing the minimum amount of work necessary.
Materials used are compatible with original materials, and methods
simulate original workmanship as much as possible.
Preserve
and Protect Resources: Without assistance to supplement
BLM’s limited resources, many archeological sites in
Sand Canyon would continue to
deteriorate and could be lost forever.
By identifying and working to preserve these sites, they will
be here for future
generations to enjoy and study.
Results
Between March 1997 and September 2000, 313 people participated
in one of Kelly Place’s working vacations. These
past participants are now informal ambassadors for low-impact
visits to archeological sites everywhere.
The presence of the volunteers and archeologists has
helped to keep the
area open and expand the capabilities
of BLM to monitor the land.
Four archeological sites in Sand Canyon have been stabilized
including Castle Rock (1998), Sunny Alcove
(1998), Vision House (1999-2000),
and Two Storey House (1999-2000).
BLM has noted a shift in visitor
behavior since 1997. Subsequent
visitors have been more respectful of
the landscape and archeological sites.
BLM is currently in discussion
with other commercial outfitters who
would like to take a more active role
in preserving Sand Canyon. Outfitters have expressed an interest
in helping monitor the land, gather information, and produce
educational materials
about how to be a responsible visitor.
On June 9, 2000, President Clinton signed a presidential
proclamation
designating this area as the Canyons
of the Ancients National Monument.
For more than a millennium a culture thrived in what is now
the southwestern United States. The people—who called themselves
a name that no one now knows—hewed intricate apartment-like
dwellings out of canyon cliffs. Belonging to four distinct linguistic
groups, these natives, nevertheless, shared common cultural traditions,
from basket-making to agronomy and the creation and use
of pottery. Originally known collectively as the “Anasazi,” a
Navajo word roughly translated as “ancient ones,” they
are referred to today as Ancient Puebloan People. Their archeological
legacy is extensive but endangered. 
Back in 1987 BLM had completed a cultural resources management
plan for the area. As a result, the area had been closed to motorized
vehicles. In 1990, BLM had opened up the six-mile-long Sand Canyon
Trail in an attempt to protect the landscape from further erosion
by keeping visitors on just one path. The trail had worked well
for a few years and had attracted hikers, horseback riders,
and mountain bikers alike. But as Sand Canyon became more popular,
concerns about visitor impact grew.
In 1996, the Carrikers proposed a partnership with BLM, knowing
that there was strength in numbers when it came to effecting
change. Completing an archeological survey was the first priority
to find out more about the number and kind of sites in the canyon.
In addition, the survey could help secure National Register of
Historic Places designation for Sand Canyon, opening up the possibility
of more grants. Thus, in November of that year, MCRI and BLM
jointly applied for
a Colorado Historical Society grant to
conduct a survey of the undocumented archeological sites in the
Sand Canyon Resource Area. The proposal was funded.
Collaborate: By
working together in a public-private partnership, BLM, Kelly
Place, and MCRI found
they could accomplish their goals of protecting cultural resources
while supporting local tourism business at the same time. BLM
provided project oversight, materials, and transportation,
while Kelly Place provided volunteer labor. Forming a public-private
partnership also gave BLM the opportunity to take advantage
of grant funds through the
nonprofit MCRI.
Find
the Fit Between the Community and Tourism: BLM’s
primary concern was to ensure the preservation and protection
of the cultural resources in Sand Canyon, while Kelly Place wanted
to ensure that Sand Canyon stayed open for visitors, thus securing
the livelihood of their tourism business. By using visitors as
volunteers to help with documentation and preservation efforts,
BLM and Kelly Place have both been able to achieve their goals.
Make
Sites and Programs Come Alive: Kelly Place’s
working vacations offer participants a hands-on experience
that provides
a meaningful understanding of and appreciation for the Anasazis
as well as for the field of archeology.
Focus
on Quality and Authenticity: All work is carefully
supervised and documented by trained archeologists. Detailed
reports describe
the stabilization work so future generations will know which
work was done by archeologists and which was done by the ancient
people. The purpose of ruin preservation is to preserve the
site exactly as it is, doing the minimum amount of work necessary.
Materials used are compatible with original materials, and methods
simulate original workmanship as much as possible.
Preserve
and Protect Resources: Without assistance to supplement
BLM’s limited resources, many archeological sites in
Sand Canyon would continue to
deteriorate and could be lost forever.
By identifying and working to preserve these sites, they will
be here for future
generations to enjoy and study.
