Can You Dig It?

Flagstaff AZ (February 20, 2013) – Do you “dig” archeology? So do the Flagstaff Area National Monuments. Throughout the month of March, visit Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, and Sunset Crater Volcano to learn more about the amazing science of archaeology and how it is used in your National Parks and Monuments. There won’t be any digging, but it will be a lot of fun for the whole family.

In the Flagstaff Area National Monuments alone, over 3,000 archeological sites have been recorded to date. Some of the artifacts found in the monuments are over ten thousand years old. Through a combination of archeological 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.

To celebrate the incredible history and the unique environments of the Flagstaff National Monuments, we will be offering guided Discovery Hikes, evening Lantern Hikes, and kids’ Craft Days. All events are family friendly. Guided Discovery Hikes and Lantern Hikes require reservations.

For information and reservations to the events, contact Lisa Baldwin, 928-526-1157 x233 or Lisa_Baldwin@nps.gov

• Wupatki National Monument – Guided Discovery Hike, Wednesday, March 6th, 10:00 a.m.

  Join an archaeologist for a guided hike into the backcountry of Wupatki National Monument to view ancestral agricultural fields, water diversion features, and other agricultural structures. The park archaeologist will describe the agricultural practices used in the northern Southwest, and engage visitors in a discussion about the ways in which people were able to thrive in this arid climate. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible, reservations required.)

• Wupatki National Monument – Family Craft Day, Wednesday, March 20th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

  Join NPS archaeologists at the Wupatki Visitor Center and learn about ancestral technologies. Come learn how early people in northern Arizona processed plant food using manos and metates. Make your own pinch pot, paint brush, and split-twig figurine. Various artifacts from Wupatki will be on display. Hands on activity for every age. (Suitable for children, wheelchair accessible.)

• Wupatki National Monument -Lantern Hike at Wupatki Pueblo, Friday, March 22, 6:00 p.m.

  Join NPS archaeologists in an evening walk back in time around Wupatki Pueblo and see into the lives of those who lived here 800 years ago. Various artifacts from Wupatki Pueblo will be on display. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible, reservations required.)

• Wupatki National Monument – Wukoki Pueblo Walk, Tuesday, March 26th, 10:00 a.m.

  Walk back in time with an archeologist at Wukoki Pueblo. Come see what “life on the edge” was like 800 years ago. Learn how people interacted with each other and the environment to survive in this desert landscape. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible, reservations required.)

• Walnut Canyon National Monument – Lantern Hike to Historic Ranger Cabin, Friday, March 8th, 6:00 p.m.

  Join NPS archaeologists on an evening hike to the historic Ranger Cabin. Built in 1904, this cabin served as the first headquarters and museum for what was to become Walnut Canyon National Monument. Come learn about this cabins unique history and see what archaeologists are doing to preserve it. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible, reservations required.)

• Walnut Canyon National Monument – Island Trail Walk, Tuesday, March 12th, 10:00 a.m.

  Join an NPS archaeologist for a guided hike into the past. See what “life on the edge” was like at Walnut Canyon National Monument. The archaeologist will discuss the diverse ways in which the Sinagua inhabitants of the canyon utilized plants for food, medicine, clothing, and tools. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible, reservations required.)

• Walnut Canyon National Monument – Family Craft Day Saturday, March 16th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

  Join NPS archaeologists at the Walnut Canyon Visitor Center and learn about ancient technologies. Come learn how early people in northern Arizona processed plant food using manos and metates. Make your own pinch pot, paint brush, and split-twig figurine. Various artifacts from Wupatki NM will be on display. Hands on activity for every age. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible.)

• Walnut Canyon National Monument – Guided Ledge Hike, Monday, March 18th, 2:00 p.m.

  Join an NPS archeologist for a guided hike into the past. You will walk along the popular Ranger Ledge Trail and see how the Sinagua lived “life on the edge” at Walnut Canyon National Monument. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible, reservations required.)

• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Guided Hike, Thursday, March 14th, 2:00 p.m.

  Join an NPS archeologist for a guided walk discussing Sunset Crater Volcano and the archaeology of the area. (Suitable for children, not wheelchair accessible, reservations required.)

The staff at the Flagstaff Area National Monuments would like to encourage monument friends and neighbors to take advantage of the activities honoring Archeology 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 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The entrance fee is $5.00 per person for visitors 16 and over. America the Beautiful Passes are honored and sold.

For additional information on other Archeology and Heritage Awareness Month activities around the state, check the Arizona State Parks website at www.azstateparks.com/shpo/index.html