State Land Department Environmental Focus

Cultural Resource Protection

Many significant cultural and historical sites are found on State Trust Lands.  To fulfill our obligation to protect these resources, ASLD supports two important programs.

The Hohokam left behind these pots and metate for their eventual return.  Their civilization collapsed and the artifacts remained un-disturbed for more than 700 years until discovered on a rock ledge on Trust Land in Pinal County.  Recovered by the Land Department’s Archaeologist, the artifacts were moved to the Gila River Indian Reservation.  After the research was completed, they were repatriated and returned to those that were here before.

Site Stewards 

The Arizona Site Steward Program is an organization of volunteers, sponsored by state and federal land managers of Arizona. The Site Steward Members are selected, trained and certified by the State Historic Preservation Office and the Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission.  The main objective of the Steward Program is to monitor and report destruction or vandalism of prehistoric, historic archaeological and paleontological sites in Arizona to the land managers. Stewards are also active in public education and outreach activities. 

Currently, Site Stewards serve to protect 215 of the most critical cultural resource sites on Trust Land.  Other sites are protected by lessees, including lands near the Casa Grande Monument.      

To volunteer contact Nicole Armstrong-Best, State Parks Resource Protection Specialist: 602.542.7152 sitestewards@azstateparks.gov.

Learn more about the Site Steward Program at http://azstateparks.com/volunteer/v_sitestewards.html.

 

Theft of petroglyphs and other rock art, has soared in the last twenty years.  Modified tools were used to remove a portion of this irreplaceable rock panel.