Archaeology Southwest

05/15/2026

Last month, nearly 140,000 people submitted comments in support of protecting Chaco.

As we await next steps, Acoma Pueblo Tribal Councilman Everett Garcia shares a reminder of why this place matters so deeply to Indigenous communities and to future generations.

“Chaco is not abandoned. We still have our ancestors here.”

Stay alert for updates as this process continues.



Photo/video credits:
1 & 5: Paul Reed
2: Paul Vanderveen
3 & 4: Adriel Heisey

05/01/2026

Following on our statement, here are Aaron's broader reflections on his recent visit to the Las Playas Intaglio (image from 20 years earlier, courtesy of Rick and Sandy Martynec): https://ow.ly/RZRp50YTFZA

05/01/2026

Our statement on the destruction of the Las Playas Intaglio: https://ow.ly/7KaQ50YTCAc

04/28/2026

Thank you to potter Andy Ward for donating sherds from some of his extremely accurate reproduction vessels! Karen and Shannon got to visit his studio today to choose some sherds for a new teaching collection, including replica corrugated, Roosevelt Redware, St Johns Polychrome, and more.

04/20/2026

🌵 HAPPY NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK! 🤩

We’re celebrating the heart and soul of our work—our incredible volunteers! Project team lead Jaye Smith has penned a heartfelt tribute to the dedicated San Pedro CAC project crew, whose passion and commitment help bring the past to life, one tiny sherd at a time.

To every volunteer who gives their time, energy, and expertise: THANK YOU. You make Preservation Archaeology possible, and we are endlessly grateful for you.

Read Jaye’s tribute and join us in honoring all our amazing volunteers! 👏

Appreciation and gratitude for our San Pedro CAC project volunteers during National Volunteer Week (April 19–25) Jaye Smith, Team Lead, San Pedro CAC Project (April 20, 2026)—Dirty, tiny sherds waiting to be washed…flakes and more flakes…countless hours under the magnifier searching for that...

04/07/2026

Chaco Canyon lives, breathes, and is sacred to the Pueblo people, as Chairman Sanchez explains. The U.S. Department of the Interior is putting what’s left of oil & gas above the enduring heritage of the Pueblos and Tribes who have called this land home since time immemorial. Speak up BEFORE 11:59 p.m. MDT today, April 7—your voice matters!

ACT NOW: Click the 'participate' button at the top of the page to comment https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=D949F582-402D-F111-8341-001DD804183B

Correction: Chairman Sanchez realized that he said astrology when he meant astronomy.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park


Image 1 © NPS
Video 2 © Paul Reed
Image 3 © Paul Vanderveen
Image 4 © NPS
Image 5 © David Wallace

04/06/2026

What can YOU do to make the BLM maintain and enforce the 10-mile protection zone?

This zone was enacted in 2023 under then-Interior-Secretary Deb Haaland. The feds want to revoke the zone to enable oil and gas development within that buffer.

If this protection is rescinded, oil rigs could literally be built just 100 feet from the park boundary. This would impact the Ancestral places surrounding Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, which number in the 20,000s. Think about how this would impact yYOUR sense of place if your home or spiritual home suddenly had oil rigs and new access roads all around.

We encourage anyone who cares about this landscape and its preservation for future generations to contact the BLM. They have only provided a 7-day window for public comment, due by Monday 4/6, so let’s TELL them know how much WE CARE!

Make your voices heard: https://nmwild.org/get-involved/sign-a-petition/protect-chaco-canyon/?ms=sat_email&utm_campaign=sat&utm_medium=email&utm_source=aswemail&emci=b4fccc77-d32e-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&emdi=15f365d1-d42e-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&ceid=15719

04/04/2026

As a US citizen who uses our public lands and supports full protection of cultural and natural resources, I strongly oppose the BLM’s move to revoke PLO 7923. In addition, given the significance and sacredness of the living Chaco landscape to Pueblos and Tribes, I find the truncated 7-day scoping period particularly inadequate and insulting. I urge BLM to extend that to 90 days with public meetings. In short: Protect Chaco, respect Pueblos and Tribes, keep the withdrawal, and extend the comment period. Anything less reveals bad faith on the part of BLM and Interior.

Comment here: https://nmwild.org/get-involved/sign-a-petition/protect-chaco-canyon/?ms=sat_email&utm_campaign=sat&utm_medium=email&utm_source=aswemail&emci=b4fccc77-d32e-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&emdi=15f365d1-d42e-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&ceid=15719&fbclid=IwY2xjawQ-F_ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDQ3JlVVAzS0ZIaUZVbTFUc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrcIa7VDjavUFtRv9SBHZFEeorlBMMZm3KNtVzpeZAUYRhmRLHilMRlQlpu4_aem_7wDB9OA8LJG-LVl2kJiDTA

04/02/2026

URGENT: U.S. Department of the Interior plan to ERASE the administrative withdrawal to is part of a larger effort to put oil & gas profits over the health & well being of Tribes whose heritage is inextricably linked to this sacred landscape.

ACT NOW : https://nmwild.org/get-involved/sign-a-petition/protect-chaco-canyon/?ms=sat_email&utm_campaign=sat&utm_medium=email&utm_source=aswemail&emci=b4fccc77-d32e-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&emdi=15f365d1-d42e-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&ceid=15719

Chaco Culture National Historical Park!

04/02/2026

NM Director Paul Reed: "We are appalled that Secretary Burgum is moving to revoke the mineral withdrawal and put Chaco’s 10-mile zone of protection and the Greater Chaco Landscape at risk. The amazing cultural heritage of Chaco Culture National Historical Park must not be compromised. If the process moves forward, a 7-day comment period is ridiculously short and not compliant with established practice. This process should unfold with a 90-day NEPA process and public meetings, allowing the public to fully participate."
Go to protectchaco.org and use this link to oppose the revocation of Chaco's protection zone !
https://secure.everyaction.com/Mm4LgDlNq0SRLZQT3kTyKQ2
https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/.../revoking-chaco.../