Managing Archaeological Resources for the Future: A Monumental Task.

Abstract

The 2000 Census showed that Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah ranked first through fourth, respectively, among the 50 states in percentage of population increase since 1990; New Mexico was twelfth. In the twenty-first century, the Southwest's public lands will increasingly be asked to meet multiple demands. This includes outdoor recreation for these growing populations, as well as traditional uses such as grazing, mining, logging, and hunting. In addition, Native Americans will increasingly seek to influence management decisions on public lands they consider ancestral. In this context of growing, and often conflicting demands, the designation of certain public lands as national monuments is highly significant. What are the implications for the future of Southwestern archaeology?