[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5757-S5758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN:
  S. 1093. A bill to establish the Galisteo Basin Archaeological 
Protection Sites, to provide for the protection of archaeological sites 
in the Galisteo Basin of New Mexico and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


          Galisteo Basin Archaeological Protection Act of 1999

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill 
designed to provide for the protection of various historical sites in 
the Galisteo Basin. The Basin is located in and around Santa Fe County, 
New Mexico, as depicted by this map. (See, map) To understand the 
importance of these sites, it's important to understand the history of 
this Basin.
  Mr. President, when the Spanish Conquistadores arrived in New Mexico 
in 1598, they found a thriving native Pueblo culture with its own 
unique traditions of religion, architecture, and art, which was 
enriched and influenced by an extensive system of trade. The subsequent 
history of conflict and coexistence between these two cultures, Pueblo 
Indian and Spanish, shaped much of the language, art, and cultural 
worldview of New Mexicans today.
  That initial history of cultural interaction in New Mexico 
encompassed a period of a little over one hundred years from the 1598, 
through the Pueblo revolt in 1680, and the recolonization by the 
Spanish in the early 1700s. Among these sites are examples of both the 
stone and adobe pueblo architectural styles which typified Native 
American pueblo communities prior to and during early Spanish 
colonization, including two of the largest of these ancient towns, San 
Marcos and San Lazaro Pueblos, which each had thousands of rooms at 
their peak. Also included in these sites are spectacular examples of 
Native American petroglyph art as well as historic missions which were 
constructed as part of the Spaniards' drive to convert the native 
populace to Catholicism. The twenty six archeological sites addressed 
in this bill provide cohesive picture of this crucial nexus in New 
Mexican history, depicting the culture of the pueblo people, and 
illustrating how it was affected by the Spanish settlers .
  Mr. President, through these sites, we have an opportunity to truly 
understand the simultaneous growth and the coexistence of these two 
cultures. Unfortunately, this is an opportunity we may soon lose. Most 
of these sites are not currently part of any preservation program and 
through weathering, erosion, vandalism, and amateur excavations are 
losing their interpretive value.
  This legislation creates a program under the Department of the 
Interior to preserve these sites, and to provide interpretive research 
in an integrated manner. While many of these sites are on federal 
public land, many are privately owned and a few are on state trust 
lands. The vision behind this legislation is that an integrated 
preservation program at sites on Federal lands could serve as a 
foundation for archaeological research that could be augmented with 
voluntary cooperative agreements with state agencies and private land 
owners. These agreements would provide landowners with the opportunity 
for technical and financial assistance to preserve the sites on their 
property. Where the parties deem

[[Page S5758]]

it appropriate, the legislation would also allow for the purchase or 
exchange of property to acquire these very valuable sites. With such a 
program in place, we should be able to preserve the history embodied in 
these sites for future generations.
  Mr. President, I would also like to add that this legislation is 
supported by Cochiti Pueblo which is culturally and historically tied 
to these sites. I have received a letter from Isaac Herrera , the 
Governor of Cochiti Pueblo expressing his support and that of the 
tribal council. Governor Herrera notes that the tribe has already 
donated $10,000 to the preservation of one of these sites. This 
legislation is also supported by the State Land Commissioner.
  Let me conclude by showing you some examples of these magnificent 
sites. These first 2 charts are from the Comanche Gap site, they are 
outstanding examples of petroglyph art. The next three charts I have 
show three of the various pueblo sites. The first, Pueblo Blanco. As 
you can see the drywash at the top of the picture and the road at the 
bottom, these are the types of erosion threats which I mentioned 
earlier. The next picture is Arroyo Hondo. Again, you have a drywash at 
the top, a major road along the site, and development around the site, 
which shows the threats posed. Finally is the Pueblo of Colorado, once 
again showing the threat of erosion from the drywashes above.
  Mr. President, I want to especially thank Jessica Schultz who has 
been an intern in my office this past year, and has done yeoman work in 
providing research for this bill and in helping to draft it.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have the text of the 
Galisteo Basin Archaeological Protection Act of 1999 printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1093

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled.

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Galisteo Basin 
     Archaeological Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       (a) The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Galisteo Basin and surrounding area of New Mexico 
     is the location of many well preserved prehistoric and 
     historic archaeological resources of Native American and 
     Spanish colonial cultures;
       (2) These resources include the largest ruins of Pueblo 
     Indian settlements in the United States, spectacular examples 
     of Native American rock art, and ruins of Spanish colonial 
     settlements; and
       (3) These resources are being threatened by natural causes, 
     urban development, vandalism, and uncontrolled excavations.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide for the 
     preservation, protection, and interpretation of the 
     nationally significant archaeological resources in the 
     Galisteo Basin in New Mexico.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF GALISTEO BASIN ARCHAEOLOGICAL 
                   PROTECTION SITES.

       (a) In General.--The archaeological sites listed in 
     subsection (b), as generally depicted on a map entitled 
     ``Galisteo Basin Archaeological Protection Sites,'' and dated 
     May 1999, are hereby designated as ``Galisteo Basin 
     Archaeological Protection Sites'' (in this Act referred to as 
     the ``archaeological protection sites'').
       (b) Sites Described.--The archaeological sites referred to 
     in subsection (a) consist of 26 sites in the Galisteo Basin, 
     New Mexico, totaling approximately 4022 acres, as follows:


        Name                                                      Acres
Arroyo Hondo Pueblo..................................................21
Burnt Corn Pueblo...................................................110
Camino Real Site......................................................1
Chamisa Locita Pueblo................................................40
Comanche Gap Petroglyphs............................................768
Espinoso Ridge Site.................................................160
La Cienega Pueblo & Petroglyphs.....................................126
La Cienega Pithouse Village.........................................179
La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs..........................................186
La Cieneguilla Pueblo................................................12
Lamy Pueblo..........................................................30
Lamy Junction Site...................................................65
Las Huertas..........................................................20
Pa'ako Pueblo........................................................29
Petroglyph Hill......................................................90
Pueblo Blanco.......................................................533
Pueblo Colorado.....................................................120
Pueblo Galisteo/Las Madres..........................................284
Pueblo Largo.........................................................60
Pueblo She..........................................................120
Rote Chert Quarry.....................................................1
San Cristobal Pueblo................................................390
San Lazaro Pueblo...................................................416
San Marcos Pueblo...................................................152
Tonque Pueblo........................................................97
Upper Arroyo Hondo Pueblo............................................12
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