Protecting Archaeological Sites with Elizabeth Hora (Utah SHPO)

For at least 13,000 years, humans have called Utah home. Many different cultures and traditions have been born here, passed through here, and are currently practiced across the state. Archaeological sites represent physical places on the landscape where we can see back into the past, and connect to people who have come before us. But archaeological sites record all traces of human activity, including our own, and sites can be directly threatened by our presence through visitation. Southeastern Utah has some of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world, including sophisticated water control structures, but increasing tourism in this high desert landscape can risk irreversible damage to these sites and features. Join us July 22 to learn how to visit sites like an archaeologist, and also hear the story of Utah’s ancient past.

This event accompanies H2O Today, a traveling Smithsonian exhibition touring Utah in partnership with Utah Humanities and Canyon Country Discovery Center. The tour is part of Think Water Utah, a statewide collaboration and conversation on the critical topic of water presented by Utah Humanities and its partners. For more information, see www.utahhumanities.org

H2O Today is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It was adapted from an exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History (New York) and the Science Museum of Minnesota (St. Paul), in collaboration with Great Lakes Science Center (Cleveland), Field Museum (Chicago), Instituto Sangari (Sao Paulo), National Museum of Australia (Canberra), Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto), San Diego Natural History Museum, and Science Centre Singapore. For more information, see www.utahhumanities.org

For more information about H2O Today in Monticello please visit https://www.ccdiscovery.org/

Please check with the venue for the latest on mask and social distancing requirements at that location. Thank you!