BLM to reopen Calico Early Man Site
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BARSTOW, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is reopening the Calico Early Man Site, an archaeological site about 15 miles northeast of Barstow in San Bernardino County after completing remediation to eliminate public safety hazards.
The Calico Early Man Site is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the United States. Made famous by the world-renowned paleoanthropologist, Louis Leakey’s work at the site between 1964 and 1970, the Calico Early Man site continues to spark discussion among the professional community as well as the general public.
In September 2016, the BLM temporarily closed the site due to public safety concerns and vandalism, including many ancient artifacts stolen. The site remained closed as vandalism and further degradation of the site increased threats to public safety. Remediation began in January 2022 and included installation of gates, backfill of excavations, and removal of dangerous structures and debris.
The BLM invites the public to visit the site for self-guided tours and to learn more about California’s extraordinary prehistoric past. During your visit, please respect and protect our ancient history. Minimize your impact and leave any artifacts you may find. Visitors can help protect America’s public lands by reporting potential resource damage to BLM Law Enforcement Dispatch at (800) 637-9152.
In 2021, the BLM completed an environmental analysis of the area. The environmental analysis and other documents are available on ePlanning here: https://bit.ly/3wtoyHd. For more information, please contact the Barstow Field Office at (760) 252-6000.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.