Science in Practice Portal

The California Desert includes a considerable quantity of archaeological resources along with its many other values. As the Bureau of Land Management seeks to meet the challenge of managing its desert lands for the common good, it is appropriate that the archaeology of the area be numbered among its considerations. Not only does the BLM have a legal responsibility to protect archaeological remains under Federal law, but archaeology constitutes a public resource in several respects. Understanding and enjoyment of the desert as a recreational area is enhanced by understanding the ways prehistoric man lived in this environment that strikes many as harsh and sterile.