Utah State Office
| Contacts: | Erin Darboven | , (435) 865-3032 |
Small Artifact is a Big Find for Color Country BLM
Youth Credited with Proper Reporting for Future Preservation
Harmon credits the youth recovery program for doing the right thing. “These days a lot of what you hear in the news centers around the problems of today’s youth, here’s an example of the next generation doing the right thing, the right thing in not disturbing the artifact and doing the right thing by reporting the find to proper authorities,” said Harmon. Harmon feels encouraged that archaeological education is making a difference.
The retrieval process was tenuous; involving an arduous hike up steep slopes and the delicate extrication of the precious clay pot. The next phase of the find is searching for the pot’s rightful owners. Harmon has contacted the tribes of the Ute, Paiute, Zuni, Hopi and the Navajo with information of the find. Ultimately, final disposition of the piece will be determined through consultation with the partnering tribes.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
Utah State Office 440 West 200 South, Suite 500 SLC, UT 84101-1345