CULTURAL RESOURCES: NEVADA'S
PUBLIC LAND HERITAGE
PIECES OF THE PAST
As a Nevadan, you along with all Americans, share a rich
cultural and historic heritage. This heritage includes all of the diverse
peoples who have come to Nevada since 1800 and it reaches beyond them to
encompass all of the people who have lived in Nevada for at least the last
12,000 years.
The physical remains left by Nevadans over the last 12,000
years are found on the 48 million acres of public lands administered by the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Nevada.
CULTURAL RESOURCES
A cultural resource is anything resulting from human
activities. These resources include tools, art, trails, buildings, sites, and
districts that are important to our knowledge of human development. In Nevada,
this resource base stretches from the earliest known human habitation dating
back thousands of years to the modern developments of the 19th and 20th
centuries. It is the responsibility of the BLM to coordinate the inventory,
preservation, and interpretation of these important but fragile resources for
the public.
Cultural resources give us information about historic and
prehistoric human cultures - their geographic distribution, their time range,
where the people came from, what happened to them, and what they made and did.
This information is important because our present attitudes, values, ideas and
material culture have been shaped largely by our past. By studying prehistory
and history we can appreciate the forces that have operated to bring us where we
are. Knowledge of the differences and similarities of the human response to
different environments adds perspective to our present, showing us what we may
be capable of achieving and how we might deal with future problems.
Cultural resources are usually divided into three main
categories: prehistoric resources, historic resources, and traditional cultural
resources.
PREHISTORIC RESOURCES
Prehistory comprises that period of time before written
history. In Nevada this includes evidence of human habitation in the Great Basin
dating back some 12,000 years and stretching to the early 1800s. The remains of
tools, weapons, and dwellings of the prehistoric Paiute, Shoshone, and other
Indian groups testify to these peoples' remarkable adaptability.
Important prehistoric sites include: the Grimes
Point/Hidden Cave area near Fallon, the Sunshine archaeological district near
Ely, the Hickison Summit area near Austin, the Humboldt Sink area near Lovelock,
and the Brownstone archaeological area near the Calico Hills in Clark County.
Among the archaeological treasures associated with these sites are a wealth of
stone artifacts, numerous ancient baskets and extensive panels of rock art.
HISTORIC RESOURCES
Historic resources belong to recorded history, i.e., that
period of time during which written records have been kept. In Nevada this
period generally began with the arrival of western civilization in the early
1800s and continued through the boom-and-bust cycle of Nevada's mining camps to
the present day. These resources include remains such as old bottles, weapons,
and tools as well as buildings and other structures, important trails and mining
districts. Historic photographs and written accounts of western life supplement
the archaeological evidence and help to bring the period alive, both for
scholars and the modern public.
Key historical sites in Nevada include: the Applegate-Lassen
Emigrant Trail through the Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada, the Pony
Express Trail and stations across central Nevada, and the Tybo charcoal kilns
near Warm Springs in Nye County which provided fuel for nearby smelters.
THE BLM'S CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM
The objectives of the BLM's cultural resources program are
to discover and preserve these sites and artifacts for scientific, cultural,
educational and religious use by present and future generations. The program
includes inventory, protection and stabilization, and interpretation of these
pieces of the past.
The inventory task on 49 million acres is almost
overwhelming. About three percent of these lands has been inventoried. Because
of the large amount of land and the limited public funds available, the BLM
concentrates its efforts on areas with known cultural values or areas proposed
for projects that are likely to disturb the ground surface and thus damage
cultural sites. Protection and stabilization work is done on sites that are in
danger of deterioration or that pose a threat to public safety. Interpretation
efforts include posting signs explaining sites, publication of study findings,
and establishment of interpretive areas such as the Grimes Point Petroglyph
Study area near Fallon.
All this work is accomplished in cooperation with many
other public and private agencies and institutions. The BLM works closely with
the State of Nevada Historic Preservation Officer as well as the Nevada State
Museum, which catalogs and stores artifacts removed from the public lands. Other
agencies involved include the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Reno; the
Nevada Historical Society; the Desert Research Institute; The Nevada State
Museum in Carson City and Las Vegas; and local museums in Elko, Ely, Tonopah,
and Winnemucca. The BLM also often contracts with private cultural research
firms to perform inventories and excavations of public land cultural resources.
PROTECTED BY LAW
Prehistoric and historic cultural resources are part of
every American's national heritage. But it is a heritage that is being destroyed
by intentional and unintentional vandalism and looting. It is estimated that
more damage was done to ancient sites in the United States last year than in the
previous 600 years.
The Congress, on behalf of the American people, has
enacted many laws to protect these national treasures. The Antiquities Act of
1906 first provided for the preservation and protection of antiquities on
Federal land and established penalties for violation. The National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966 and various amendments established a program for
preservation of historic properties. The 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management
Act establishes a national policy for protection and management of cultural
resources. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 provides for access
to and use of sacred sites and objects on Federal lands. Finally, the 1979
Archaeological Resources Protection Act strengthens the Federal Government's
legal commitment to protect these resources by establishing stiff penalties such
as prison sentences and fines for those found guilty of excavating, removing,
transporting, or selling these resources without a permit.
Despite these laws, destruction continues, and enforcement
of these laws on 4* million acres with few personnel is a problem. The BLM
believes that the best way to preserve cultural resources is to inform the
public and to enlist support in this important effort. Helping people to
understand that the cultural resource values are far greater than their material
worth is the first step. Learning the importance of leaving these artifacts, no
matter how small, in their original setting for both study and enjoyment by
others is another major goal. And working together to curb the looting of these
resources by professionals who sell them for profit is also critical.
YOUR GUIDE TO ENJOYING NEVADA'S HERITAGE
FOR THE HARDY EXPLORER
These are your public lands and venturing out onto them to
view and enjoy your cultural heritage is always exciting. Following basic safety
precautions, such as telling someone your itinerary: carrying extra food,
clothing and water: and traveling in groups. If you have an interest in amateur
archaeology, there are several organized groups in Nevada that can help you
channel your energies responsibly so that you do not inadvertently damage or
disturb prehistoric or historic artifacts. If you do find a cultural resource on
your travels, never pick it up, remove, alter, or in any way disturb it. You can
perform a valuable public service by recording the physical description of the
find as well as the location. If you turn this information in to the BLM, your
find will be recorded for future investigation.
If you are a professional archaeologist, you should be
aware that permits are required to excavate or remove cultural resources. The
BLM can assist you in obtaining a permit.
FOR THE LESS ADVENTURESOME
You can also enjoy your cultural history by visiting the
many museums that house prehistoric and historic artifacts. The Nevada State
Museum in Carson City and the Nevada Historical Society in Reno have extensive
collections. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Natural History Museum and the
Nevada State Museum in Las vegas also have important collections. County and
City museums throughout the State concentrate on the cultural resources of a
particular area. Important historic sites throughout the State are also marked
along highways and roads. Information on these and other State managed locations
can be obtained from the Division of State Parks in Carson City.
FOR THE ARMCHAIR TRAVELER
For those less inclined to travel about, there is a wealth
of literature available. The State Library in Carson City, and each County
Library, house special Nevada collections. The Nevada Historical Society and the
Nevada Archaeological Association publish periodicals on Nevada history. The
Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U. S. Geological
survey publish a series about Nevada mining camps that provides fascinating
looks at these settlements. Nevada Magazine often deals with historical
subjects and bookstores contain numerous published accounts of Nevada history.
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