Many important and spectacular archaeological sites are permanently preserved on public lands administered by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service. This comprehensive guide surveys thirty park units expressly created to preserve and interpret places that commemorate the lives, experiences, and cultures of Native Americans. These preserves are labeled “National Parks,” “National Historical Parks,” and “National Monuments” and each has its own history. Many were created under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906, perhaps the nation’s foremost piece of conservation legislation. The Antiquities Act authorizes the President of the United States to create national monuments on public lands by executive proclamation. Since 1906, sixteen presidents have used it to create new protected areas. Often, Congress follows up with legislation to expand and consolidate the original proclamation.
In this volume, archaeologist Kenneth Feder, a professor emeritus at Central Connecticut State University, guides the reader through thirty of the most important archaeological parks. His focus is on the histories and lives of the Native people who once lived there, starting with their origins and leading into the significance of various ruins. He also guides the visitor through the various sites and the trails to get to the ruins. With 180 color illustrations and complete visitor information, this guide is a complete introduction to the archaeology and history of the legacy of the people which the parks were created to preserve.
Of the thirty park units covered in this guide book, twenty-three are in the Four Corners states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Sadly, this is a reflection of the priorities and passions of the people creating archaeological parks in the United States. It is a shortfall the National Park Service and others need to address.
This is a wonderful guide book that everyone visiting these archaeological parks will want to have in hand to lead the way.
