Cultural Heritage
Experience History on Your Public Lands
Humans have used the public lands managed by the BLM for more than 10,000 years. As a result, the land holds invaluable evidence of human prehistory and history, preservation of these important lands will ensure current and future generations the ability to connect to their natural and cultural heritage.
Archaeological sites and historic landscapes give us important insights into the ways human activities and the land have been linked together through time. Discovering, studying, and understanding the evidence of past human uses of the land gives the BLM and the public critical background as we consider how to use and manage the same land today and in the future.
Explore archaeological resources and management on BLM-managed lands.
Public lands are also rich in paleontological resources, and serve as outdoor laboratories for studying the fossilized remains of plant and animal life, some hundreds of millions of years old. More kinds of fossils can be found on the BLM-managed public lands than on lands managed by any other federal agency.
Learn about paleontological discoveries and more on BLM-managed lands.
GUIDANCE FOR IMPROVING AND SUSTAINING TRIBAL RELATIONSHIPS
The new BLM 1780 Tribal Relations Manual and Handbook represents the culmination of years of outreach and coordination between the BLM and American Indian tribes, and has been developed to complement the direction of the Administration and the Department. Beginning in August 2008, the BLM initiated comprehensive outreach to the tribes that garnered valuable input for improving BLM tribal consultation policy and practice. Tribes also provided insights regarding tribal consultation required by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The decision to create a comprehensive manual resulted from tribal feedback. The new manual and handbook will assist BLM’s line managers and responsible staffs who carry out consultation and cooperation across a wide spectrum of resources and issues of concern to tribes.
Tread Lightly
BLM Utah and Tread Lightly! have teamed up to protect valuable archaeological and paleontological resources from vandalism.
Learn more about protecting archeological and paleontological resources on public lands.