Join Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments as we Celebrate Archaeology Month
Flagstaff AZ (February 21, 2012) – Throughout the month of March, the Flagstaff Area Monuments has planned several activities in honor of “Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month.”
“Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month” was created by the State Historical Preservation Office and the Governor’s Ad Hoc Archaeology Advisory Group (now the Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission) to inform the public about archeology in the state of Arizona.
In the Flagstaff Area Monuments alone, over 3000 archaeological sites have been recorded to date. Some of the artifacts found in the monuments are over a thousand years old. Through a combination of archaeological information and the oral traditions of present-day tribes, we are able to help visitors learn more about how the Ancestral Puebloan people lived and how their descendants continue many of the traditions and life-ways today.
The following are activities planned for the month of March:
- Walnut Canyon Discovery Hike – March 13, 10am. Hike with a park archaeologist at Walnut Canyon National Monument. Space is limited; reservations are required. For more information and to sign up please call the Walnut Canyon Visitor Center at (928) 526-3367. Regular entrance fees apply.
- Wupatki Discovery Hike – March 14, 10am. Hike with a park archaeologist at Wupatki National Monument. Space is limited; reservations are required. For more information and to sign up please call the Wupatki Visitor Center at (928) 679-2365. Regular entrance fees apply.
- Wupatki Archeology Day Camp – March 24, 10am and 1:30pm. Spend time with archaeologists and learn about archeology through fun, hands-on activities designed for children ages 8-12. Space is limited; reservations are required. For more information and to sign up please call the Wupatki Visitor Center at (928) 679-2365. Regular entrance fees apply.
The staff at the Flagstaff Area National Monuments would like to encourage monument friends and neighbors to take advantage of the activities honoring Archaeology Month.
Walnut Canyon National Monument is located 7.5 miles east of downtown Flagstaff via I-40 and can be reached at (928)526-3367 and on the web at www.nps.gov/waca.
Wupatki National Monument is 37 miles north of Flagstaff via Hwy 89, and can be reached at (928)679-2365 and www.nps.gov/wupa.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is located 12 miles north of Flagstaff via Hwy 89 and can be reached at (928)526-0502 and www.nps.gov/sucr.
All three monuments are open daily, except December 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The entrance fee is $5.00/person for visitors 16 and over. America the Beautiful Passes are honored and sold.
For additional information on other Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month activities around the state, check the Arizona State Parks website at www.azstateparks.com/shpo/index.html
