Utah legislators passed a bill Wednesday that would allocate $152,000 for security at Utah's Range Creek area, site of unparalleled findings of Utah's ancient inhabitants.

The site is home to remnants from the Fremont people, who lived in Utah between 400 and 1350 A.D. They were a farming community, growing mainly squash and corn. Archaeologists have found well-preserved foodstuffs, rock paintings, houses and storage areas in the Range Creek lands.

"We want to ensure that that site remains pristine so that the research can continue and really provide the world with what we believe will be a much greater understanding of the Fremont culture," said Nancy Lyon, assistant vice-president for government affairs at the University of Utah.

Security is vital for the Range Creek find because without surveillance people could damage or steal the artifacts.

Originally the land was privately owned and well preserved, but now that the area is public land, the government can no longer restrict public access.

Garth Portillo, state official archaeologist for the Bureau of Land Management said government agencies and the U of U, along with other colleges in Utah, were working together with law enforcement officials to keep the area safe.

Portillo said security has not yet been a problem because of the official's efforts and the remoteness of the area.

However, he said funds were needed because the current security measures are taking time and money, and pulling law enforcement officials away from surrounding areas.

Although a comprehensive plan for the area's security has not been finalized, Portillo said there is an interim plan in place.

Corinne Springer, an archaeologist who works for Utah Trust Lands, is currently living on the property and will stay until conditions get too rough during the winter.

In addition to Springer, law enforcement patrols the area.

"We've maintained a pretty good presence out there," Portillo said. "People from the University of Utah and people from the state have been out there physically pretty much every day through the open season."

He said because vehicle access is limited, people hiking in has not been a big problem.

"We're talking about some pretty serious walking in some fairly rough country," Portillo said. "It's a long drive over a difficult road which is impassible during wet weather, then you get to a locked gate and you've got a 12-mile hike beyond that point to get down to the ranch, so we haven't seen a lot of people trying to do that."

However, he said this might change once hunting season opens.

The importance of the area is not its size, but its preservation, said Joel Janetski, chair of BYU's Department of Anthropology. Archaeologists have found larger sites, but none that have been as well preserved.



Copyright Brigham Young University 20 Sep 2004