Chaco Canyon. 1000 years ago, all roads led there. Sadly, today modern roads have multiplied into a maze of archaeological destruction. Damage comes from oil and gas drilling and looters gain easy access to sites like The Holmes Group – an ancient Chaco village in Northern New Mexico. Highly esteemed Chaco scholars have shared their words in support of this significant site and our vital project to preserve it here:
“Speaking as a preservationist, when you become a grandparent, you find the mottos and catchphrases of Saving the Past for the Future truly important. Taking my grandson, who has grown up in Japan, to Chaco Canyon meant a great deal to me and to him as well on realizing the incredible sociocultural complexity of the Chacoan culture. The outlying sites found in the San Juan Basin are integral components of that Chacoan culture, and the Holmes Group site is an outstanding example of an outlier. Not only are Chacoan roads manifest there, but equally important, a unique earthen circle surrounding the site. The Holmes site must be saved for future research and certainly the Conservancy is the most appropriate organization to preserve it.” Quote from Dr. Jim Judge, Chaco Scholar and Professor Emeritus Fort Lewis College, and The Archaeological Conservancy Board Member.
“The Holmes Group is an extremely significant Chacoan site for future archaeological research because of both it’s size and it’s location in an area that became an extremely important part of the Chaco World in the 11th and 12th centuries. Previous research in the heavily looted Mimbres region and the Homol’ovis has shown that there is still much to be learned at such sites. The current opportunity to preserve the Holmes Group may be our last chance to save this critical site and anyone who loves archaeology should if possible help the Archaeological Conservancy achieve that goal.” Quote from Dr. Stephen Plog, Chaco Scholar and Professor at University of Virginia.
- “There was a time (circa A.D. 1050-1150) when the Chacoan World was expanding into the northern San Juan Basin – a process marked by a new architecture conveying deep social, political and religious meaning. For the past century destruction of those buildings has accelerated to a point where our knowledge of that World has been vastly diminished. This is our opportunity to preserve a fragment, but a critical fragment, of that which was “Chacoan” for our time and well into the future.” Quote from Dr. R. Gwinn Vivian, Chaco Scholar and Former Curator of Archaeology & Associate Director, Arizona State Museum.
“Do we fully understand the greater Totah region and its connections with Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde? No, but as archaeologist Paul Reed states, this site has the potential to make a major contribution to our understanding of this region, but only if we protect it. Contribute now.” Quote from Dr. F. Joan Mathien, Chaco Scholar and Chaco Culture NHP Museum Collection and Research Associate at the Office of Archaeological Studies, NM.
“I wished I could have spent longer there,”.. “It[Holmes Group] is a spectacular complex…We’re really taking a broader look at outliers currently to really understand the Chaco phenomenon” Quote from Larry Baker, Chaco Scholar and Director of Salmon Ruins Museum.
“I was fortunate to lead test excavations at Holmes in 2007, with help from many folks. The site is phenomenal. It has seen some serious impacts, as have most of our big sites in New Mexico. But, many rooms, kivas, and other features remain intact at Holmes.”Quote from Paul Reed, Chaco Scholar and Preservation Archaeologist, Archaeology Southwest.
Press Articles on This Project:
- Archaeology group seeks to acquire Chacoan site from the Farmington Daily Times
- How You Can Help Archaeologists Save An Endangered Ancient Pueblo Village from Forbes by Dr. Kristina Killgrove
- Seeking support for valued archaeological site from the Ruidoso Times
