OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE SPECIAL – VISIT WITH RESPECT
Practice Good Stewardship
Public Lands are for exploration. In addition to spectacular natural beauty, there are fascinating stories to be told by prehistoric and historic sites, specimens, and artifacts found on our public lands. And each story contributes to our larger understanding of the heritage of our community.
- These stories tell us about who and what came before, how the land was impacted in the past, and how our current community developed.
- These stories are told to us by the paleontological, archeological, and historic sites and materials that are found on the land.
To preserve these stories, we need to practice good stewardship and protect not only the land, but thprehistoric and cultural heritage found on the land. Protecting the land and its heritage is protecting not only what belongs to you and the larger community, but also preserving that which belongs to our future generations.
The Law:
It is not only a good idea to protect the paleontological and anthropological heritage found on public land — it is the law.
- For archaeology and historic treasures found on public land, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) of 1979 recognized that archeological resources are an irreplaceable part of our heritage. The pillaging and vandalizing over the years has endangered and destroyed archeological and historic sites. ARPA and other laws protects archeological resources and sites on federal lands and Indian lands.To learn more about archaeology law, click here: https://www.nps.gov/archeology/public/publicLaw.htm
- For paleontology, fossil and tracks are protected under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) of 2009. The act prohibits an attempt to ͞ excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface any paleontological resources located on Federal land.Some casual collecting in specified areas is allowed on a limited basis on some public lands. Check with the area BLM, Forest Service Office on local collecting guidelines. More information can be found at the links below:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/fossil-protection.htm - Professional researchers can get paleontological or cultural resource use permits to conduct archaeological research on some public lands. Please contact your loal BLM, Forest Service or National Park Service office for more information .
Also refer to the following sites for more information:
- https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=7b7796f0ea8fbf9aa22cf76da4fb5d09&mc=true&node=pt36.2.291&rgn=div5
- USDA Forest Service, fossils and paleontology:
https://www.fs.fed.us/geology/fossils.html - Bureau of Reclamation, fossil resources:
https://www.usbr.gov/cultural/fossil.html - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, historic preservation:
https://www.fws.gov/historicPreservation/crp/index.html - Bureau of Land Management, Paleontology:
https://www.blm.gov/programs/cultural-resources/paleontology
How to show the land and its treasures respect:
LEAVE THE HERITAGE, TAKE THE MEMORIES:
Keep discovery alive so the next person can share the experience. Do not take paleontological specimens such as fossils, archaeological artifacts such as pottery pieces or arrowheads, or historic artifacts such as mining tools.
ADMIRE THE ROCK ART, BUT DON’T TOUCH:
Though it is tempting to reach out and touch the past, our hands are covered with oils that can negatively impact rock art. Think about how touchscreens on a phone or tablet look after just a few touches and then imagine what would happen if hundreds of people touch the rock art panel. Touching the rock art damages the heritage of ancient people. Vandalism of petroglyphs and pictographs is illegal.
DON’T CREATE YOUR OWN ROCK ART:
Graffiti is not only destructive to the rock art and the beauty of the site, it is illegal.
SHARE RESPONSIBLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Many rock art and other sites are considered sacred and important to tribes and are visited for religious or ceremonial purposes even today. Please do your part to protect these sites by not damaging them, or marking them on social media or maps. Be responsible with location information. Some of our special places are being loved to death or damaged by careless users due to their availability on social media.
DON’T RUIN THE RUINS:
Historic and prehistoric structures are fragile and easily damaged. Do not climb on walls or eat around sites (it can attract pests that can then begin damaging the structures by living in them).
LEASH PETS WHEN AROUND SITES:
In some places, pets are not allowed in archaeological sites. Digging and dog waste leads to erosion and contamination.Please check with the public land agency that you are visiting for more information on pets and archaeological sites.
DON’T BUILD CAIRNS:
Cairns can increase foot traffic in and around on sensitive sites. In addition, somepeople willbuild these rock stacks with artifacts like grinding stones. Moving artifacts from their original context changes our understanding of the past.
STAY ON THE TRAIL:
The cryptobiotic soil is living, one step destroys what took years to grow. “Don’t Bust The Crust”
STAY ON EXISTING ROUTES:
Driving off-road can damagethe fragile archaeology and ecosystems.
CAMP AND PICNIC AWAY FROM SITES:
To better protect any site, don’t camp or picnic near a site. It attracts pests which can destroy archaeological deposits and structures.
TEACH CHILDREN TO SHOW RESPECT
We want kids to find excitement in discovering the past, but they should not use paleontological and anthropological sites as playgrounds. It endangers them as well as the site. Teach kids how to respectfully visit these special places and practice good leave no trace ethics.
These and other ways you can “Visit with Respect” can be found at https://www.friendsofcedarmesa.org/tips-for-visiting-with-respect. This site also provides some educational videos on how we can show respect to the photogeological and archaeological heritage on our public Land.